Paul Pisasale extortion trial begins in Brisbane District Court

Telephone intercepts played to the court during the extortion trial of Paul Pisasale have revealed a barrister told co-accused Yutian Li to give the former Ipswich mayor the ‘girlfriend experience’.

TELEPHONE intercepts played during Paul Pisasale’s extortion trial have revealed barrister Sam Di Carlo told co-accused Yutian Li to give the former-mayor the “girlfriend experience”.

The explosive details, including comments that “the next one is free” in reference to Li were this afternoon aired in the Brisbane District Court, where Pisasale is facing two charges of extortion.

The offences allegedly occurred in January, February and March 2017.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, where he allegedly demanded a sum of money from a man named Xin Li, without reasonable cause, with intent to gain a benefit, or cause a detriment to another person, the court heard.

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale (centre) arrives at the District Court in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/Dan Peled

Recordings from Pisasale’s phone conversations were played to the jury where the ex-Ipswich mayor talks with Di Carlo about meeting Li.

“Did she put her hand on your leg?” the barrister asks Pisasale in the recording.

“Yeah she did, very nice,” Pisasale replied. Di Carlo was then heard laughing loudly.

Di Carlo then tells Pisasale: “I told her to give you the girlfriend experience”.

“I don’t think she’s done it very often,” Pisasale replies in the recording played to the court.

Pisasale later says he likes “helping people” and wants to assist Li, who allegedly came to Australia for the man she later found out was married.

Di Carlo later tells Pisasale in the recording referring to Li: “ … the next one is free, the next two hours is completely free”.

In another call Pisasale told Di Carlo that Li was “in the wrong trade” as she was “just too nice”.

In a later recording played to the court, Pisasale phones the alleged victim of the extortion, taxi driver Xin Li, in an effort to recoup money Li spent travelling to Australia from Singapore to be with the man.

“I’m a private investigator,” Pisasale says in the recording.

“She just wants to find out the truth otherwise we will be proceeding with court action. She has been very heartbroken and she feels like you’ve deceived her. If you don’t want to do this we will issue Federal Court proceedings. She doesn’t want to hurt you. She just wants it all to go away.”

He later tells the man he’ll be talking to the Australian Government.

“I’ll send you a summons to appear in a Sydney court,” Pisasale says.

“I’ll ring you tomorrow to tell me what lawyer you are using. We are going to the Federal Court. She will be suing you for $200,000.

“She has a good case because she has all the evidence to show where you have cheated her while you were married.”

Melbourne woman Li Yutian. Picture: Adam Armstrong

He later tells the taxi driver: “You don’t want to upset women … maybe you want to give a little bit of money toward helping her”.

In a heated argument between the pair played to the jury the former-mayor goes on to say: “We’ll be talking to the Australian Government as well. This is Australia buddy, stop trying to blackmail her. We’ll get you exported out of Australia for the way you’re taking.

“I’m a very patient man and I know the Government and I know the immigration Minister.”

Yutian Li has also been charged with two counts of extortion but pleaded not guilty this morning.

Solicitor Cameron McKenzie, who is also on trial alongside Pisasale and Li, pleaded not guilty to one count of extortion, allegedly committed on January 15, 2017.

Originally published as Paul Pisasale extortion trial begins in Brisbane District Court