Court Spares Underworld Figure Tony Mokbel Extra Jail Time
Tony Mokbel has achieved another legal victory after Victoria’s highest court ruled he will not face further prison time for his involvement in a methamphetamine trafficking network.
The Court of Appeal re-sentenced Mokbel to the period he has already served, following the overturning of several convictions linked to the Lawyer X scandal. The court also determined that Mokbel is no longer classified as a “serious drug offender.”
Mokbel, currently out on bail, was re-sentenced this morning for his role in a drug operation conducted between 2006 and 2007, while he was hiding in Greece and evading Australian police.
“When Mokbel was sentenced to three decades’ jail in 2012, his penalty included a 20-year term for the drug operation known as ‘Magnum’.”
This sentence has now been altered to time already served, as the Court of Appeal reduced the penalty due to the consequences of the Lawyer X affair and the overturning of related convictions.
At the end of Thursday’s hearing, Mokbel embraced his partner before leaving the court, choosing not to speak to reporters. The decision marks another major legal milestone for Mokbel, who moves one step closer to full freedom after more than 6,500 days in custody.
Author’s Summary
The Victorian Court of Appeal ruled that Tony Mokbel, once a major drug figure, will not serve extra prison time, marking a decisive step toward his release after years behind bars.