Court Dramatically Reduces Tony Mokbel’s Sentence
Former gangland leader Tony Mokbel will not serve additional prison time following a major sentence reduction by one of the country’s top courts.
Background and Initial Sentencing
Mokbel, a central figure in Melbourne's gangland conflict, was originally sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment in 2012 after pleading guilty to serious drug offenses. This sentence was later adjusted to a non-parole period of 22 years. After spending 18 years behind bars, he was released on bail in April 2025.
Appeals and Key Revelations
In a series of appeals related to three police operations—Orbital, Magnum, and Quills—Mokbel challenged his drug trafficking and importation convictions. These appeals followed explosive disclosures that his lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, acted as a police informant.
Court of Appeal Decisions
- Convictions tied to the Quills operation were quashed and Mokbel was acquitted of those trafficking charges.
- A new trial was ordered for the MDMA trafficking and importation convictions linked to the Orbital operation.
- The appeal on the Magnum case, involving his drug enterprise "The Company" and trafficking methylamphetamine in 2006-2007 during his time overseas, was rejected.
Final Sentence Adjustment
On Thursday, Victoria's Court of Appeal overruled the original sentence from 2012, reducing it significantly to 13 years, 7 months, and 15 days.
"The court ruled his appeal had failed on the Magnum case but set aside the original sentence, varying it to 13 years, 7 months and 15 days."
Despite serious charges and lengthy imprisonment, Mokbel’s legal victories reflect profound impacts of compromised legal representation and evidence in his cases.
Summary: The reduction of Tony Mokbel’s sentence highlights critical legal challenges in gangland prosecutions, shaped by revelations about his lawyer’s informant role and subsequent court rulings.