In a live report for 7NEWS Australia from the Melbourne Court of Appeal, I covered a major development in the long-running Lawyer X saga: underworld figure Tony Mokbel has had two of his three drug trafficking convictions quashed, while one conviction remains on foot. The decisions mark a significant turn after revelations that Mokbel’s former lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, was secretly acting as a police informant for years.
Table of Contents
- Quick summary of today's ruling
- Background: the Lawyer X scandal and why these appeals matter
- What the court found
- Mokbel's status now and next steps
- Reaction and immediate aftermath
- Why this case matters beyond one defendant
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Conclusion
Quick summary of today's ruling
The three-justice bench delivered mixed but consequential outcomes for the 60-year-old Mokbel:
- One conviction was acquitted completely.
- A second conviction was quashed but will require a retrial.
- The third appeal was dismissed and that conviction stands.
"Two were quashed, one was not."
Background: the Lawyer X scandal and why these appeals matter
The decisions stem from the so-called Lawyer X scandal, which exposed that Nicola Gobbo — who represented several high-profile clients, including Mokbel — was acting as a police informant for about five years.
The revelation called into question the fairness of several prosecutions because defendants were unaware their legal counsel had conflicting loyalties. Mokbel pleaded guilty at the time of his convictions, not knowing his lawyer had been providing information to police.
What the court found
The appellate judges concluded that in two of Mokbel’s cases there was a substantial miscarriage of justice. That finding led to one acquittal and one quashed verdict requiring retrial. For the third matter, the appeal was dismissed and the conviction remains.
Mokbel's status now and next steps
Mokbel, who had been serving a long sentence — originally 30 years and later reduced to 26 — was released on bail in April after the Lawyer X revelations came to light. He remains on bail following today’s decisions.
He will return to court in November for sentencing related to the remaining conviction. The bench and parties will have to decide whether the sentence already served is sufficient for that conviction; the outstanding charge carried a head sentence of 20 years.
Reaction and immediate aftermath
When asked whether today brought him relief or frustration, Mokbel described his feelings as mixed: "Yeah, it's a bit like that." Many observers and legal commentators will be watching the November hearing closely to see how the remaining sentence is resolved.
Why this case matters beyond one defendant
The Mokbel appeals are a touchstone for broader questions about legal ethics, police handling of informants, and the integrity of past prosecutions that may have been affected by covert relationships between lawyers and law enforcement. The Court of Appeal’s willingness to find substantial miscarriages of justice in two matters highlights the seriousness of those ethical breaches.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
-
Q: Which convictions were quashed?
A: The Court of Appeal quashed two of Mokbel’s three drug trafficking convictions — one resulted in an immediate acquittal and the other was quashed but will require a retrial. The third conviction was upheld.
-
Q: Why were the convictions appealed?
A: The appeals were brought after it emerged that Mokbel’s lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, had been secretly acting as a police informant, raising concerns that defendants did not receive fair representation and that miscarriages of justice may have occurred.
-
Q: Is Mokbel free now?
A: Mokbel remains on bail. He was released in April pending the outcomes of appeals related to the Lawyer X revelations and will return to court in November for sentencing on the remaining conviction.
-
Q: What happens at the November hearing?
A: The court will consider sentencing for the conviction that remains. Judges will decide whether Mokbel has already served sufficient time in custody or whether further penalty is required.
-
Q: Could other convictions affected by Lawyer X be reviewed?
A: Yes. The Lawyer X scandal has prompted reviews of multiple cases and has led to a broader reassessment of prosecutions where Gobbo acted for defendants while also informing police.
Conclusion
Today’s Court of Appeal ruling is a significant moment in the fallout from the Lawyer X revelations. For Tony Mokbel it brings partial vindication but also leaves an outstanding conviction and the prospect of further legal proceedings. The case continues to raise important questions about the limits of informant use and the protections owed to defendants in our justice system.
For continuing coverage and the full report, watch the original 7NEWS Australia segment below.
