BREAKING: Gangland kingpin Tony Mokbel continues his intense legal battle to overturn multiple convictions after a split decision from the Victorian Court of Appeal on October 27, 2023. Mokbel, aged 60, entered the court this morning with high hopes that his convictions for drug trafficking and importation would be quashed, but the judges delivered mixed rulings that have left his future uncertain.
In a dramatic conclusion, Justices Stephen McLeish, Maree Kennedy, and Stephen Kaye decided to quash Mokbel’s conviction for the Quills drug trafficking case, which involved trafficking over 30 kilograms of MDMA in 2005. However, his conviction related to the Orbital drug importation charge, which involved an attempt to import 100 kilograms of MDMA, was set aside with a retrial ordered.
The judges emphasized the serious nature of the alleged offenses but ruled that the integrity of Mokbel’s case was compromised due to the involvement of former barrister-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo. The court noted, “the failure of Victoria Police and the prosecution to disclose the conduct of Ms. Gobbo impugned the integrity of his guilty pleas.”
While Mokbel celebrated a partial victory, the court upheld his conviction related to the Magnum drug trafficking charge, which involves trafficking over 41 kilograms of methylamphetamine. The court concluded that Gobbo’s involvement did not affect the evidence in that case.
As Mokbel exited the court, he faced a barrage of questions from reporters but chose to remain silent, focusing straight ahead. His bail, previously granted in April after nearly 18 years in prison, has been extended as he prepares for upcoming hearings regarding the Orbital charges on October 29 and a return to the Court of Appeal in November for the Magnum offense.
Mokbel’s legal team continues to argue that he has suffered a substantial miscarriage of justice due to Gobbo’s dual role as his lawyer and police informer. Gobbo, infamously identified as Lawyer X in 2019, was registered as a police informer from 2005 to 2009 and advised Mokbel during critical periods of his legal struggles.
The implications of this ruling are significant, not only for Mokbel but also for the broader legal community in Australia, as it raises important questions about the integrity of evidence obtained under dubious circumstances. Prosecutor David Glynn argued that while some cases have been weakened, the remaining charges are still viable, asserting that Gobbo was not acting as Mokbel’s legal representative when he pleaded guilty to the charges in 2011.
Mokbel’s ongoing fight for justice highlights the complexities of the judicial system and the potential for systemic failures. With heightened public interest, all eyes will be on the upcoming hearings, as Mokbel seeks to further challenge the convictions that have defined his life for nearly two decades.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
