Paul Pisasale signed off as "Mayor Paul" on an email concerning his attempt to extort money from his friend's ex-lover, a court has heard.
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The former Ipswich mayor is alleged to have used the email address abby9951@gmail.com to ask: "I wonder what he'll do", with the inquiry said to refer to Sydney taxi driver Xin Li who had been sent a threatening letter by Pisasale's lawyer Cameron James McKenzie.
Pisasale, 67, is on trial in Brisbane District Court after pleading not guilty to two counts of extortion over allegations he demanded as much as $10,000 from Xin.
Xin was the former partner of Yutian Li, who was acquainted with Pisasale in early 2017.
Prosecutors believe Pisasale also made a series of phone calls in which he allegedly told Xin he would be taken to court if he did not pay Li between $5000 and $10,000.
Li had told Pisasale she wanted to punish Xin after learning he was married during their relationship, the jury has heard.
On Wednesday Xin was played calls in which Pisasale allegedly claimed he was a private investigator.
Pisasale allegedly told him he owed Li because it "cost her a lot of money to find out the truth", namely $10,000 in private investigation fees.
"I'm not going to be f***** around like you f***** her around," he said in the phone calls.
"She has got a very, very good case in regards to what you have done ... She could go after you.
"I'd prefer this to go to court because she could get a lot of money.
"You cost her a lot of pain and her life's been destroyed.
"You're a married man who's cheated many women ... You know how to upset people."
Pisasale then allegedly engaged Ipswich solicitor McKenzie to write to Xin demanding money and making threats of court action.
"Paul asked me to do it," McKenzie told investigators.
McKenzie and Li have also pleaded not guilty to extortion.
The trial continues.
Australian Associated Press