Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale to stand trial on sexual assault, fraud, perjury charges

The former Ipswich mayor faces charges including sexual assault, perjury and fraud.

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale. Picture: AAP

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale will face trial on charges including sexual assault, corruption, perjury, attempting to pervert the course of justice and fraud.

The 68-year-old, dubbed “Mr Ipswich” during his long local government career, was committed to stand trial at a hearing in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Monday.

Two sexual assault charges relate to allegations Pisasale “unlawfully and indecently” assaulted a woman twice on the same day in Ipswich in December 2016 when he was mayor.

It’s the first time the sexual assault allegations can be reported under Queensland laws which require a person to be committed to trial before publication.

Pisasale’s lawyer, Andrew Anderson, consented to him being committed to trial in the District Court on a total of 16 charges and said he would not enter a plea.

For each charge or group of charges, Pisasale was asked by Magistrate Jacqui Payne if he wanted to say anything.

Standing in the dock, in a suit and tie and with his hands clasped in front of him, he replied each time: “No thank you, Your Honour.”

Fraud charges related to allegations he dishonestly applied to his own use Ipswich City Council money and, over diverse dates, items belonging to the council and others.

These were named as cookware, sporting memorabilia, barbecues, barbecue equipment, a backpack, tripod, speakers, electrical kitchen appliances, a portable seat and blanket, a backpack bed, ceramic craft item, replica truck, garden lights, art work, photographs, decorative items and whisky.

He is charged with official corruption after he allegedly “corruptly agreed to champion” a Yamanto project.

He is alleged to have dishonestly applied to his own use $51,292 worth of tools intended for the local men’s shed and a $10,000 cheque.

A secret commissions charge relates to allegations he corruptly received $28,500 from property developer Christopher Zenonos, “the receipt of which would tend to influence” him to show favour.

He allegedly attempted to pervert justice “by influencing a witness to provide false and misleading evidence”.

Other fraud charges relate to Pisasale allegedly dishonestly applying further sums of money to his own use and dishonestly gaining the benefit of interstate travel.

Pisasale announced his resignation in June. Picture: AAP

Two further charges — possessing a restricted drug and contravening local government act provisions — were adjourned.

Three separate Director of Public Prosecutions representatives appeared.

Ms Payne said the perjury charge related to a Crime and Corruption Commission coercive hearing on May 25, 2017.

Pisasale is accused of giving false testimony at the coercive hearing to the effect he never brought any packages interstate for barrister and friend Sam Di Carlo.

Pisasale was mayor from 2004 until 2017 and regularly won more than 80 per cent of the vote.

He announced his resignation at the city’s St Andrews private hospital — wearing a dressing gown and citing health concerns — a day after his office was searched by the Crime and Corruption Commission.

Pisasale’s former personal assistant Heather Gunn, one of only two witnesses called at the hearing, was questioned about his practices while mayor.

Former Ipswich Men’s Shed president Terry Carter was asked about Pisasale’s intention to donate and distribute tools.

Crown prosecutor Sam Bain offered no evidence on a second charge of official corruption, substituting it with the secret commissions charge.

No evidence was offered on a charge of misconduct in public office, which was substituted with a charge of contravening the local government act. One charge of perverting justice was dropped.