Snapshot of Paul Pisasale extortion case

HOW PAUL PISASALE ENDED UP BEHIND BARS:

WHO

* Paul Pisasale, the 67-year-old former mayor of Ipswich. He served in the role for 13 years.

* Singaporean escort Yutian Li, who became friends with Pisasale after providing him sexual services

* Ipswich solicitor Cameron James McKenzie, who came to knew Pisasale through their charity work with the Ipswich Rotary Club.

CHARGES

* Pisasale and Li were charged with two counts of extortion after they dishonestly demanded up tio $10,000 from her ex-boyfriend Xin Li, a taxi driver living in Sydney.

* McKenzie was charged with one count of extortion after he sent a letter to Xin saying he would be taken to court if he did not pay.

ARREST

* Pisasale was arrested and charged in June 2017. He had resigned as mayor weeks prior after the Crime and Corruption Commission raided his office.

TRIAL

* Pisasale was recorded posing as a private investigator to demand money from Xin.

* He claimed his attempts to extract money from Xin were to reimburse Yutian for financial losses she suffered when she uprooted her life to be with Xin only for their relationship to fail.

* Prosecutors argued Xin owed Yutian nothing and Pisasale's pursuit of him was dishonest. She and Pisasale were motivated by a desire to get money for her to stay in Australia and leave the sex industry.

* Pisasale then requested McKenzie send Xin a letter demanding money and threatening to take the matter to the Federal Court.

* The jury found the accused trio guilty of all charges after deliberating for about a day.

SENTENCE

* Pisasale was sentenced to two years in jail, suspended after 12 months.

* Yutian received 15 months' jail, suspended after seven months.

* McKenzine was jailed for 18 months, suspended after nine months.