Former mayor Paul Pisasale arrested, charged with extortion

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale is facing three charges, including one count of extortion, after he was arrested by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

The 65-year-old is due to front the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday morning after being remanded in custody overnight.

Earlier, a CCC spokesman said the charges had "nothing to do with the fifty grand" found on Mr Pisasale at Melbourne airport on May 12 or Operation Belcarra, the organisation's investigation into the 2016 local elections.

Asked whether anyone else could become the subject of CCC action, the spokesman said: "I can't say at this stage. The investigation remains ongoing."

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale.Credit: Chris Hyde

Ipswich City Council learned about the arrest of the former mayor on Tuesday afternoon.

Council CEO Jim Lindsay said charges related solely to the alleged personal misconduct of Mr Pisasale.

"I'm disappointed to hear through the media of today's developments," he said.

"Many council staff have worked closely with Mr Pisasale over a number of years, and I can assure everyone that there are deep feelings of disappointment that their former mayor has been arrested.

"Council business however, must operate as normal."

Before Mr Pisasale was charged, lawyer Glen Cranny declined to comment on reports of the former mayor's arrest but remarked "we'll see what the day brings".

Two weeks ago, dressed in pyjamas and socks at a hastily-assembled media conference at St Andrew's Ipswich Private Hospital, Mr Pisasale told reporters that he had resigned as Ipswich's mayor and as a councillor.

"It's a very sad day for me and a very emotional day," Mr Pisasale said on June 6.

"My journey has been going for 26 years and I am so proud to have been the mayor for such a wonderful city," he said, wearing a white hospital gown and red pyjama pants dotted with white stars.

He was known as "Mr Ipswich" after becoming one of the regional city's most readily identifiable figures.

Mr Pisasale was first elected as an Ipswich councillor in 1991 and became Ipswich's independent mayor in 2004.

On his resignation, he told reporters that day he had succumbed to multiple sclerosis, a disease he had quietly suffered since 1998.

On June 7, it was revealed he had been stopped at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport by Australian Federal Police with $50,000 cash.

The next day, Brisbane barrister Sam Di Carlo told reporters he had asked then then-Ipswich mayor to carry the $50,000 through the airport as part of a Supreme Court settlement.

The Crime and Corruption Commission has always maintained there was an ongoing investigation underway into issues concerning Mr Pisasale.

Under parliamentary privilege last week, independent state MP Rob Pyne levelled serious allegations of corruption and misconduct against Mr Pisasale and other senior Ipswich council members.

He tabled the four-page unattributed document in Queensland Parliament.

Key developments:

• June 6: Paul Pisasale resigns from Ipswich City Council, citing ill health
• June 7: It emerged that Mr Pisasale had been stopped at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport with $50,000 cash
• June 8: Brisbane barrister Sam Di Carlo said he had asked Mr Pisasale to carry the money.
• June 14: Independent MP Rob Pyne uses parliamentary privilege to level serious allegations against Mr Pisasale.
• June 20: Mr Pisasale is arrested, facing three charges.