Australian Gangster Tony Mokbel Gets Reduced Drug Sentence
Tony Mokbel, Australia's most notorious gangster, had his 20-year drug trafficking sentence reduced to just over 13 years after revelations about his lawyer acting as a police informant.
Background and Original Sentence
Mokbel was sentenced to 30 years in 2012 for running a complex drug syndicate during Melbourne's gangland war. His criminal group, known as “The Company,” was connected to numerous murders, later depicted in the TV series Underbelly.
The Nicola Gobbo Informant Scandal
The case took a critical turn when it was revealed that Mokbel’s high-profile lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, secretly provided information to police while representing her clients.
Legal Developments and Sentence Reduction
- Mokbel served about 18 years before being released on bail in April after courts ruled he had grounds to appeal.
- His lawyers argued that he would not have pleaded guilty if he had known about Gobbo’s role as Informer 3838.
- The Court of Appeal addressed a third charge involving the trafficking of over 41 kilograms of methylamphetamine between 2006 and 2007.
- Although the appeal was dismissed, Mokbel’s sentence was reduced from 20 years to 13 years, seven months, and 15 days.
- The court acknowledged the “very grave” nature of Mokbel’s crimes but also highlighted “unusual circumstances” surrounding the case.
- Justices noted he was a first-time drug offender and had suffered serious injuries while in jail.
“His crimes were very grave,” the court stated, “but unusual circumstances in the case have led to this reduction.”
This ruling underscores the complex implications of legal ethics and police informants in high-profile criminal cases.
Author's summary: Tony Mokbel’s drug sentence was significantly reduced due to his lawyer’s covert role as a police informant, revealing critical ethical breaches affecting his trial.