Australian Gangster Tony Mokbel Receives Reduced Drug Sentence
Tony Mokbel, one of Australia's most infamous gangsters, had his 20-year drug trafficking sentence reduced to 13 years after revelations about his lawyer acting as a police informant during Melbourne’s gangland war.
Background of the Case
In 2012, Mokbel was sentenced to 30 years for leading a complex drug syndicate known as "The Company," which was connected to numerous murders depicted in the TV series Underbelly. His lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, was later exposed as Informer 3838, secretly providing information to police while representing criminal clients.
Legal Developments
- Mokbel served around 18 years before being released on bail in April after the court accepted the possibility of appeal.
- His defense argued that he would not have pleaded guilty if unaware of Gobbo’s dual role.
- The Court of Appeal ruled on a specific trafficking charge involving over 41 kilograms of methylamphetamine between 2006 and 2007.
- Although the appeal on this charge was dismissed, Mokbel’s sentence was reduced from 20 years to 13 years, seven months, and 15 days.
Court’s Reasoning
The court described Mokbel's offenses as “very grave” but recognized “unusual circumstances” in the case.
Justices also took into account that Mokbel was a first-time drug offender and experienced serious injuries during his imprisonment.
Author's Summary
Tony Mokbel’s sentence was significantly decreased due to his lawyer's role as a police informant, affecting the fairness of his original conviction.