Tony Mokbel’s 20-year drug sentence reduced to 13 years after lawyer Nicola Gobbo was revealed as police informant during Melbourne gangland war
SYDNEY: Australia’s most notorious gangster has won a reduced prison sentence for drug trafficking after his lawyer was revealed as a police informant.
Tony Mokbel received a 30-year sentence in 2012 for masterminding an elaborate drug syndicate during Melbourne’s gangland war.
His criminal organization, known as “The Company”, was linked to dozens of murders later dramatized in the popular TV series “Underbelly”.
The case took a dramatic turn when it emerged Mokbel’s high-profile lawyer Nicola Gobbo had been feeding information to police while representing clients.
Mokbel served approximately 18 years in prison before being released on bail in April after courts found he could successfully appeal his convictions.
His legal team argued he wouldn’t have pleaded guilty had he known about Gobbo’s double life as Informer 3838.
Thursday’s Court of Appeal ruling specifically addressed a third charge involving trafficking over 41 kilograms of methylamphetamine between 2006 and 2007.
While the appeal was dismissed, Mokbel’s original 20-year sentence was reduced to 13 years, seven months and 15 days.
The court noted Mokbel’s crimes were “very grave” but acknowledged “unusual circumstances” in the case.
Justices considered he was a first-time drug offender and had suffered serious injuries while incarcerated.
Mokbel remains on bail awaiting a potential retrial for another case related to his criminal activities.
Prosecutors identified 22 people in 2019 who could have grounds for appeal due to the Gobbo informant scandal.
Gobbo claims her information led to over 300 arrests and charges during Melbourne’s gangland prosecutions.
A 2020 Royal Commission found Gobbo’s actions represented “fundamental and appalling breaches” of her legal obligations.
She had been registered as a police informant as early as 1999, two years before being admitted to practice law.
Victorian police spent five years and millions of dollars fighting to keep Gobbo’s identity secret, fearing for her safety. – AFP
