Court Cuts Tony Mokbel’s Sentence
Former Melbourne gangland figure Tony Mokbel has achieved a major legal victory after the Court of Appeal ruled he will not serve additional prison time for his drug trafficking conviction.
The court dramatically reduced Mokbel’s 2012 sentence of 30 years, which carried a 22-year non-parole period, to a total of 13 years, 7 months, and 15 days. Mokbel had already spent 18 years behind bars before being released on bail in April.
Background and Legal Appeals
Once a central figure in Melbourne’s violent gangland wars, Mokbel pleaded guilty to serious drug offences in 2012. His convictions later became the focus of a series of appeals following revelations that his lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, had been acting as a police informant.
The appeals related to three major police operations: Orbital, Magnum, and Quills. Mokbel sought to overturn his convictions from these operations, arguing they were compromised due to Gobbo’s dual role.
Details of the Court Rulings
- In the Quills operation case, the court quashed the convictions and acquitted Mokbel of trafficking offences.
- For the Orbital operation, the judges set aside his original findings and ordered a new trial concerning MDMA importation and trafficking.
- However, regarding the Magnum operation—linked to his drug network called The Company and methamphetamine trafficking from 2006–2007—his appeal was dismissed.
“Victoria’s Court of Appeal set aside the original 2012 sentence, varying it to 13 years, 7 months, and 15 days.”
Outcome
As a result, Mokbel will not return to prison, marking one of the most significant sentence reductions in Australia’s criminal history linked to police informant misconduct.
Author’s Summary: The Court of Appeal drastically cut Tony Mokbel’s 30-year sentence to just under 14 years, freeing him after 18 years due to tainted legal proceedings involving his former lawyer.