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Claim $50,000 found in Paul Pisasale's plane luggage was for friend barrister

Tony Moore

The $50,000 in cash found on former Ipswich mayor Paul Pisasale at a Melbourne airport has been claimed by a Brisbane barrister, who says the council identity was carrying it for him "as a friend" and it was part of a court settlement for a Chinese client.

Barrister Sam Di Carlo came forward with the sensational twist one day after Mr Pisasale's dramatic resignation and the news that the Ipswich City Council stalwart had been stopped by an Australian Federal Police sniffer dog at Tullamarine Airport on May 13 and found with the cash in his carry-on luggage.

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Pisasale retires from Ipswich Council

Long serving Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale resigns from Ipswich City Council, citing a multiple sclerosis attack. 7 News Queensland

Pisasale

On Thursday, Mr Di Carlo told Fairfax Media that Mr Pisasale – one of the country's most popular politicians – had done "absolutely nothing wrong".

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Earlier, the barrister had said the $50,000 was part of a settlement agreement for one of his Chinese clients.

"If you are anything like me, you will know a little bit about friendships," Mr Di Carlo said on Thursday.

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"They are one of the most special things in the world.

"And if had got you into some difficulty as a result of some misunderstanding, I am sure you would expect me to get you out of that position as soon as you can.

"I am Sicilian, I'm Italian and loyalty among friends is most important."

Mr Di Carlo said he still had legal professional privilege issues he needed to satisfy before he would explain why Mr Pisasale was carrying $50,000 in cash rather than a bank cheque or formal notice of funds lodged in an account.

"Do you know how many people have asked that same question?" he said.

"I am just not willing until my legal obligations are dealt with," he said.

"But I have documents to show – with my client's permission – to show exactly what happened."

Queensland Law Society president Christine Smyth said the "unusual chain of events" could catch the attention of the Legal Services Commission.

"It is particularly unusual to see a barrister obtaining cash directly from a client and even more unusual for it to be collected by someone who's not a lawyer themselves," she told ABC Radio Brisbane.

"But no doubt the Crime and Corruption Commission and possibly the Legal Services Commission will be very interested in the circumstances in which Mr Pisasale came into possession of a bag full of money for a barrister."

Federal police on Wednesday afternoon confirmed  Mr Pisasale was at the airport on Saturday, May 13, about to return to Brisbane when a sniffer dog – trained to detect firearms, explosives and cash – dropped at the then-mayor's feet.

"The AFP can confirm an AFP canine discovered a sum of cash being carried by a 65-year-old male passenger at Melbourne airport on Saturday, 13 May 2017," a statement from the Australian Federal Police said.

"The cash was restrained, because it was suspected to be the proceeds of crime."

Mr Pisasale was in Melbourne on May 12 to present an award to celebrity chef Jamie Oliver.

Oliver opened Australia's first Ministry of Food kitchen in Ipswich in 2011.

Seven News reported that Mr Pisasale had been asked by Mr Di Carlo to bring back from Melbourne "documents" required for a court matter.

The "documents" were delivered to Mr Pisasale's hotel between 8pm and 9pm on May 12, Seven reported.

The Crime and Corruption Commission reportedly seized footage of Mr Pisasale accepting the package.

While it is not an offence to carry large sums of money through airports, police and customs officials can ask why such a large sum is being carried.

A source gave Fairfax Media the example of a Sydney woman who travelled through Sydney Airport but failed to declare $150,000 she had won at a Sydney casino.

The woman was fined $750 by the AFP.

No charges have been laid against Mr Pisasale, although both the AFP and Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission confirmed an investigation was ongoing.

The Crime and Corruption Commission would not comment on Wednesday night.

Fairfax Media learnt Mr Pisasale was returning from Melbourne with an Ipswich council officer when he was stopped.

Mr Pisasale admitted himself to St Andrews Ipswich Private Hospital at 4pm on Monday. He resigned on Tuesday morning, saying his multiple sclerosis had been worsening and he had suffered several recent attacks.