Court Reduces Sentence of Former Gangland Boss Tony Mokbel
Tony Mokbel, once a notorious gangland figure in Melbourne, will not return to prison after a higher court drastically reduced his drug trafficking sentence.
Background and Initial Sentence
Mokbel, a central player in Melbourne's gangland war, was initially sentenced to 30 years in 2012 following a guilty plea for serious drug-related offenses. This sentence was later lowered to a non-parole period of 22 years. He has been incarcerated for 18 years but was released on bail in April.
Appeals Linked to Police Operations
Mokbel appealed his drug trafficking and importation convictions that originated from three major police operations: Orbital, Magnum, and Quills. These appeals were influenced by revelations that his lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, was a police informant.
- In the Quills operation, the Court of Appeal overturned his trafficking convictions and acquitted him.
- For the Orbital operation, the court ordered a new trial for his MDMA importation and trafficking charges.
- The appeal related to the Magnum case, which involved trafficking methylamphetamine while Mokbel was overseas from 2006 to 2007, was dismissed.
Recent Sentence Adjustment
"Victoria’s Court of Appeal set aside the original 2012 sentence, varying it to 13 years, 7 months and 15 days."
This decision significantly reduces Mokbel's original punishment and effectively ends his time in custody.
Author's Summary
The Court of Appeal's ruling dramatically shortened Tony Mokbel’s sentence, marking a major legal victory that spares him further imprisonment after years behind bars.