Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale is set to be sentenced for sexually assaulting a woman in his mayoral chambers in 2016, fraud and unlawful Viagra possession.

September 30, 2020

Former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale entered politics to help the “beautiful people” of his city but ended his career corrupt and disgraced after sexually assaulting a woman in council chambers.

The 69-year-old is set to be sentenced on Wednesday for 35 offences stemming from his time in office, including fraud, official corruption, perjury, unlawful drug possession and two counts of sexual assault.

The popular former politician, who was known as “Mr Ipswich”, previously admitted persistently pursuing and kissing a woman in his mayoral chambers at the Ipswich City Council in December 2016.

The official corruption charge relates to Pisasale agreeing to champion a Yamanto real estate project while mayor by influencing council workers and contractors.

The court heard he was promised millions of dollars if sales went ahead as planned but he never received the money.

What he actually got was the services of escorts and two small cash payments.

Pisasale has also pleaded guilty to disobedience to statute law and unlawfully possessing Sildenafil, which is often sold under the brand name Viagra.

The perjury conviction followed a Crime and Corruption Commission investigation that started in October 2017.

Pisasale gave false testimony at a CCC hearing about carrying packages from interstate for barrister Sam Di Carlo.

A raft of fraud charges relate to Ipswich City Council property and money.

Pisasale had his assistant deposit $26,000 in donations into a personal bank account instead of disbursing it to the intended beneficiaries.

He spent $4322 of council money to travel to concerts in Sydney and Melbourne.

He also applied to his own use charity auction items, including sporting memorabilia, a barbecue, kitchen appliances, artwork, photographs, decorative items and whiskey.

Pisasale read an apology to the Ipswich District Court on Thursday during his last appearance, saying he started out trying to help the “beautiful people of Ipswich” but personal “obsession and a lack of judgment” took over during a “dark period of his life”.

“My mind and ego took over and my behaviour was out of control,” he told the packed courtroom as tears welled in his eyes.

“I am not a bad person but I have made some very bad decisions.”

Pisasale was credited with the “renaissance” of Ipswich during his tenure as mayor from 2004 to 2017.

He resigned in June 2017 after 13 years in the position following a CCC raid at his office and home.

Pisasale was previously sentenced to two years’ prison, suspended after 12 months, after he was convicted of extortion in 2019.

He remains in custody.