Paul Pisasale-linked barrister Sam Di Carlo fights suspension

A bankrupt former Queensland barrister who was refused the ability to renew his practising certificate by the bar association has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

Sam di Carlo. Picture: Liam Kidston

A bankrupt former Queensland barrister who was refused the ability to renew his practising certificate by the bar association has appealed the decision to the Supreme Court.

Salvatore “Sam” Di Carlo’s practising certificate was suspended by the Queensland Bar Association on August 28 after it deemed him “not a fit and proper person”.

He appealed to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal in a bid to overturn the suspension, but lost that fight with a ruling criticising him for not paying tax on more than $1m of earnings from the past three years, and going to China when he was supposed to be in the District Court defending a lawsuit against him personally.

Di Carlo, who has been a barrister for 33 years, filed the appeal on January 7 and no date has been set for hearing.

He filed for bankruptcy in August last year.

He is also awaiting trial on a corruption charge related to former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale, and that case is due in court for a mention on Tuesday and two-week trial on February 17.

Di Carlo is awaiting a criminal trial in the District Court on a single charge of giving or offering a benefit to a public officer, and two counts of perjury.

The QCAT hearing last year heard that Mr Di Carlo is alleged to owe the Australian Taxation Office $398,329, and Queensland Bar Association barrister Patrick McCafferty told the tribunal that Mr Di Carlo had made “zero attempt” to pay his tax debt, and offered no proper explanation as to why he hadn’t paid tax in years.

Di Carlo also told the QBA that he owed corrupt ex-mayor Paul Pisasale’s brothel madam, Choonhwa “Pam” Lee about $650,000, with interest and costs.

He was found by the District Court to have failed to repay a $290,000 loan from Ms Lee.

Di Carlo had also racked up a personal legal bill of $600,000 for defending himself on the corruption charge.