Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale charged with extortion

FORMER Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale spent last night locked up after an anti-corruption investigation took a ­dramatic twist, leading to a charge of extortion and two other charges arising from the alleged assault of a woman.

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EMBATTLED former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale spent last night locked up after an anti-corruption investigation took a ­dramatic new twist.

The 65-year-old was remanded in custody after being charged with multiple offences, including extortion, and is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today. The colourful politician was arrested yesterday afternoon in Ipswich and taken to the Brisbane police watch-house on Roma St.

Crime and Corruption Commission officers last night charged him with ­extortion and two other charges arising from the ­alleged assault of a woman.

It follows a CCC inves­tigation that led to raids on Pisasale’s home and ­office the day before he resigned, citing ill health.

Former Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale was remanded in custody after being charged with multiple offences, including extortion, and is expected to appear in Brisbane Magistrates Court today. Picture: Claudia Baxter

The assault charges reportedly relate to a woman in her 20s and conduct at Ipswich City Council’s offices. The extortion charge ­reportedly relates to allegations Pisasale threatened to expose a businessman’s dealings with a prostitute.

A large media scrum gathered outside the watch-house last night, eager to hear from the man whose sudden fall from grace has sent shockwaves through the Ipswich community.

Last night, the CCC confirmed a “65-year-old Ipswich man” had been charged. “As the CCC’s investigation remains ongoing and these matters are now before the court, the CCC is unable to comment further.”

Ipswich City Council staff were surprised by the news. Council chief executive Jim Lindsay said in a statement last night the charges related solely to the alleged personal misconduct of Pisasale.

Ipswich Councillor Charlie Pisasale. Picture: Darren England

Acting Ipswich Mayor Paul Tully. Picture: Claudia Baxter

“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,” he said.

Acting mayor Paul Tully said: “My colleagues and I are shocked by these events which are of a personal nature regarding Mr Pisasale.”

Before the arrest, Pisasale’s brother and fellow councillor Charlie said: “There is a lot of concern for his health. He is not good. He has a long way to travel. He has really hit a wall.”

Pisasale resigned at an Ipswich hospital on June 6, wearing pyjamas. He said it was due to the effects of multiple sclerosis, a condition he has suffered for 26 years.

It later emerged that he had been stopped by Australian Federal Police with $50,000 in $100 notes at Melbourne Airport on May 13.

Paul Pisasale's lawyer Glen Cranny at the Brisbane City Watchhouse. Picture:Marc Robertson

Barrister Sam Di Carlo said the money was his and that his friend Pisasale was carrying it to Brisbane as a favour. He said the money was for a legal settlement and that Pisasale had been given the cash in the lobby of his hotel. There is no suggestion that Mr Di Carlo has done anything wrong.

Pisasale was allegedly meeting a Melbourne-based developer at the time the money was dropped off to him, but Mr Di Carlo said the incidents were not related.

Yesterday’s charges were unrelated to the cash.

Nicknamed “Mr Ipswich”, Pisasale had been mayor since 2004 and was Queensland’s most popular politician, amassing 83 per cent of the vote in 2016. A by-election will be held within 10 weeks to determine his replacement.

Independent Cairns MP Rob Pyne, who last week used parliamentary privilege to table a dirt sheet on Pisasale and other councillors, said: “Everyone had a go at me saying I was a coward ... but none of this (the ­accu­sations) came from me – it came from people who can’t do it themselves because they are scared.”

Business associates of Pisasale were dumbfounded by the charges. “It’s a complete shock to me,” said Lev Mizikovsky, who was a director with Pisasale on the board of Antaria. “It’s abso­lutely out of character.”