Paul Pisasale found with $50,000: Barrister says mission not so urgent

THE barrister who asked Paul Pisasale to ferry $50,000 cash interstate on an urgent mission has made an admission that, if realised earlier, could have seen the whole saga avoided.

Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale announced his resignation during a press conference from his hospital bed at St Andrews Private Hospital in Ipswich. Picture: Tim Marsden

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THE barrister who asked Paul Pisasale to ferry $50,000 cash interstate on an urgent mission has conceded the rush job was not necessary.

In the latest twist in the ­bizarre saga in which the ­former Ipswich mayor was stopped with the money at Melbourne Airport, barrister Sam Di Carlo said the settlement for the legal dispute the cash was meant for still had not been signed.

That is despite the mistaken urgency of the money being delivered from China to Brisbane being key to Mr Pisasale agreeing to carry the cash at short notice.

Mr Di Carlo said misunderstanding and fatigue following an overseas trip had led him to incorrectly believe the settlement would fall over and his client could lose her home if the money was not paid immediately.

Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale was stopped at Melbourne Airport last month, with the Australian Federal Police seizing the cash. Picture: Peter Wallis

But a settlement still has not been reached more than a month after Mr Pisasale was found with the cash.

HopgoodGanim Lawyers solicitor Darrell Jardine confirmed settlement discussions are still ongoing.

“There is no signed settlement deed between the plaintiff, who I act for, and the third defendant (Mr Di Carlo’s client),” Mr Jardine said.

Mr Di Carlo said one of the settlement conditions agreed to on March 7 was that $50,000 would be paid to the plaintiff within 60 days. He said he asked Mr ­Pisasale to carry the money for him out of a false sense of urgency because he had “panicked that the 60 days were over” when he returned from a trip through Southeast Asia and realised it had not been paid.

Barrister Sam Di Carlo asked his friend, Paul Pisasale, to ferry the money from Melbourne to Brisbane, incorrectly thinking it was urgently needed. Picture: Tara Croser

“As it turns out, had I just rung my solicitor … he would have told me, ‘Sam, the 60 days isn’t urgent because we haven’t settled it yet’,” Mr Di Carlo said.

“So, in fact we had more time than I thought.”

It is understood the settlement agreement is close to being finalised, but the 60-day period still has not started as the deed has not been signed.

The cash was allegedly brought into the country by the Chinese brother-in-law of Mr Di Carlo’s client and given to his fugitive son, who is also a defendant in the case.

On May 12, the 500 $100 notes were then given to Mr Pisasale in the lobby of a ­Melbourne hotel where the mayor was meeting with a developer.

Mr Pisasale was stopped by Australian Federal Police at Melbourne Airport on May 13 and the money seized. The money is still in the possession of the AFP.

The colourful mayor resigned last Tuesday, citing ill health, a day after his home and office were raided by police as part of a Crime and Corruption Commission ­inquiry.