Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale says he wanted to help a Singaporean escort, who's on trial with him for extortion, get out of sex work. Under cross-examination on Friday, Pisasale admitted he was provided "sexual services" by his co-accused Yutian Li. Pisasale has claimed he demanded money from Sydney taxi driver Xin Li because it was "rightfully owed" to his former partner Yutian. After Pisasale and Yutian met in early , they formed a friendship in which she confided about being heartbroken by Xin, who turned out to be married when they were dating.
He claimed the money was reimbursement for losses she suffered after uprooting her life for Xin, only for the relationship to fail, as well as the cost of private investigation fees to find out about him.
Pisasale, 67, is on trial in Brisbane District Court after pleading not guilty to two counts of extortion. Crown prosecutor Sarah Farnden asked Pisasale if he wanted to get Yutian money to be able to afford to stay in Australia "and Mr Li was a means by which you thought you could do that".
There was no large sums involved. This was just a small amount of money that this girl was legally entitled to. Yutian has also pleaded not guilty to extortion, as has Ipswich solicitor Cameron James McKenzie, who allegedly wrote to Xin demanding money and threatening court action at the request of Pisasale.
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In closing his case on Friday, Pisasale's defence barrister Lincoln Crowley said the former mayor genuinely believed he had reasonable cause to pursue Xin. Pisasale falsely representing himself to Xin as a private investigator indicated he believed an investigation had occurred, Mr Crowley said.
