Mayor dined big at Gambaro’s courtesy of developers, court hears
A prominent Queensland restaurateur has testified that the man behind a proposed Ipswich development racked up more than $880 on meals with then mayor Paul Pisasale.
Paul Pisasale. (Image: ABC)
John Gambaro, who is the director of Brisbane’s Gambaro Seafood Restaurant, Black Hide and Persone, confirmed to jurors in a Brisbane District Court corruption trial that Melbourne developer Christopher Pinzone was sent the bill for three meals between March 24 and April 8 in 2017.
Brisbane barrister Sam Di Carlo has pleaded not guilty to one count of official corruption by providing restaurant meals, cash, profit share and services from sex workers to Pisasale in exchange for his support of Pinzone’s proposed development in Ipswich’s south.
The jury on Thursday was shown “VIP customer” receipts for a $308 meal that included peeled prawns, goldband snapper and oysters, a $176 meal including Angus T-bone steak and shiraz and a $339.50 meal including eye fillet, linguini marinara and Tasmanian Tolpuddle Pinot Noir.
Gambaro said Mr Pisasale was “well known to us as a family friend and a very good supporter of the restaurant”.
Crown prosecutor Caitlin Penfold asked if all three receipts were from when Pisasale attended his restaurants.
“Correct,” Gambaro said.
The receipts also contained a handwritten note to open an account for Pinzone but Gambaro said that was “never” done.
Penfold asked Gambaro if he was aware that Pinzone attended Gambaro Seafood Restaurant on April 8, 2017 and “paid $550 towards his unpaid bills”.
“Correct … we believe there is still an outstanding amount,” Gambaro replied.
Di Carlo’s barrister Saul Holt has argued there is no evidence to show money or inducements were actually handed over for assisting the plan for a service station, restaurant and childcare centre on Warwick Road in Yamanto.
Under cross-examination from Holt, Gambaro confirmed that Pinzone had “literally never paid” his full bill for the three meals.
Gambaro also agreed with Holt that “most times someone else would pay” when Pisasale “pretty regularly” dined at his restaurants and one of the people who paid for the meals was a Springfield City Group director Maha Sinnathamby.
The jury previously heard that Springfield City Group was planning a major development in Ipswich.
