Australian gangster Tony Mokbel gets reduced drug sentence

Australian Gangster Tony Mokbel Gets Reduced Drug Sentence

Tony Mokbel’s 20-year sentence for drug trafficking was reduced to 13 years after revelations about his lawyer Nicola Gobbo acting as a police informant during Melbourne’s gangland war.

Background

In 2012, Mokbel was sentenced to 30 years for leading a complex drug syndicate known as “The Company,” which was connected to numerous murders later depicted in the TV series Underbelly.

Legal Controversy

The case shifted dramatically when it was revealed that Mokbel’s prominent lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, had secretly provided information to the police while representing clients, earning the codename Informer 3838.

Recent Developments

Mokbel served about 18 years in prison before being released on bail in April after successful appeals against his convictions.
His defense argued he would not have pleaded guilty if he had known about Gobbo’s double role.
The Court of Appeal reviewed a third charge involving trafficking over 41 kilograms of methylamphetamine from 2006 to 2007.
Although the appeal was dismissed, Mokbel’s original 20-year sentence was reduced to 13 years, seven months, and 15 days.

Court’s Assessment

"While the crimes were very grave, unusual circumstances in the case were acknowledged. Mokbel was considered a first-time drug offender and had suffered serious injuries while incarcerated."

This ruling reflects the court’s recognition of both the severity of Mokbel’s offenses and the exceptional legal situation involving his lawyer.

Author’s Summary

The sentence reduction highlights the significant impact of Nicola Gobbo’s informant role on legal outcomes in one of Australia’s most notorious criminal cases.

The Sun Malaysia — 2025-11-06