Barrister Sam Di Carlo claims Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale was carrying cash for his client
A HIGH-profile barrister claims the $50,000 found on outgoing Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale by federal police at a Melbourne airport was for a client of his.
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A HIGH-profile barrister claims the $50,000 found on outgoing Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale by federal police at a Melbourne airport was for a client of his.
The sensational claim comes a day after Mr Pisasale resigned as mayor after 13 years citing ill health and two days after his home and office were raided by police.
Brisbane barrister Sam Di Carlo told The Courier-Mail the money was for a settlement agreement for a Chinese client and that Mr Pisasale was acting as a friend by agreeing to carry it to Brisbane.
On May 13, sniffer dogs alerted Australian Federal Police officers to Mr Pisasale as he prepared to board his flight to Brisbane and officers found $50,000 in cash on the popular mayor.
“The $50,000 that was volunteered to be in the possession of Mr Pisasale, by him, at the Tullamarine Airport was $50,000 for the settlement of litigation between parties in the Supreme Court, not in any way shape or form, associated with Mr Pisasale,” Mr Di Carlo told The Courier-Mail.
“As a friend, in what I thought were urgent circumstances, I asked him to bring the money so that it could be paid from one party to another, pursuant to a settlement agreement where the $50,000 was nominated and reduced to writing on the 7th of March, 2017.”
Mr Di Carlo said he and Mr Pisasale had been prevented from revealing their version of events due to legal reasons.
“Mr Pisasale had no involvement whatsoever in any way, shape or form, other than to deliver, at my request as a friend and he has held quiet in order to keep my confidence because of my legal privilege obligations,” Mr Di Carlo said.
“My client is in China and I had to clarify that first.”
Mr Di Carlo said he agreed to tell his story to help protect the reputation of his friend.
“(Mr Pisasale) copped all of this abuse as a loyal person in circumstances where he could have revealed this straight away, but knowing that I had legal professional privilege that I had to take care of, which I was able to resolve this afternoon, kept quiet and shouldered what I call cowardly and unwarranted attacks on his reputation,” Mr Di Carlo said.
Mr Pisasale’s shock resignation came at 10.20am Tuesday from the boardroom at St Andrew’s Hospital in Ipswich.
In a bizarre media conference, in which he appeared in a dressing gown and bright red pyjamas, the popular mayor said he would cooperate with any CCC investigation.
The long-time sufferer of multiple sclerosis revealed he had been ill for about four weeks.
Deputy mayor Paul Tully has been appointed acting mayor.