Pisasale vows to ‘fight for fair’

CHARLIE PEEL, DAVID MURRAY AND LIAM WALSH

EMBATTLED former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale was plotting his political comeback even as the Crime and Corruption Commission closed in on him with the charges that would see him arrested and front court yesterday.

The Bulletin can reveal the beleaguered politician sought to overturn his resignation in the days immediately after he stood down from the top job on June 6 while in his dressing gown in an Ipswich hospital.

It can be revealed Pisasale was also considering running for mayor in the upcoming byelection to determine who would take the seat he announced he was vacating.

But “Mr Ipswich” cut a lonely figure in the dock yesterday as he faced serious criminal charges, including extortion, after his arrest on Tuesday.

Barefoot and dressed in a prison-issue brown tracksuit, “Queensland’s most popular politician” sat with his head bowed and his hands tucked beneath his legs.

He was forced to agree he would not approach international departure points so that he could get bail on charges of extortion and two other counts involving the alleged assault of a woman.

Court documents show the extortion is alleged to have occurred between January 9 and March 17, while Pisasale was still in charge of one of Queensland’s biggest regional cities.

The other two offences involve allegations of an assault at the Ipswich City Council offices in Roderick St on December 9 last year.

Following his arrest, Pisasale, 65, spent the night in custody at the Brisbane City Watchhouse.

In court yesterday, the man who attracted 83 per cent of the vote at last year’s council elections, a normally colourful character renowned for his confidence, barely moved in his seat and left the talking to his solicitor, Glen Cranny.

Finally, Queensland’s deputy chief magistrate Terry Gardiner told Pisasale to stand and granted him bail.

Mr Gardiner also issued broad suppression orders, preventing the public from being told details of the case despite Pisasale being a public official at the time of the alleged offences.

As he walked out of the watchhouse, he told the waiting media pack he would “of course” be fighting the charges.

“First thing I want to do is thank everyone for showing up,” he said.

“I just wanted to say all my life I’ve fought for Ipswich, I’ve fought for fair, and I’m going to continue to do that.”