Court spares underworld figure Tony Mokbel extra jail time
Victoria's Court of Appeal has ruled that Tony Mokbel, a prominent underworld figure, will not face any further prison time related to a methamphetamine trafficking case. The ruling marks a new legal victory for Mokbel following recent reversals of previous convictions tied to the Lawyer X scandal.
Details of the court decision
The court re-sentenced Mokbel to time already served, effectively ending the remaining term from his prior conviction for a drug operation known as "Magnum." The trafficking scheme occurred between 2006 and 2007 while Mokbel was hiding in Greece after fleeing Australian authorities.
Originally, in 2012, Mokbel had been sentenced to three decades in prison, including a 20-year term for the Magnum enterprise. Due to the compromised nature of several cases associated with the Lawyer X controversy, the Court of Appeal reduced this sentence, acknowledging the legal irregularities that affected prior proceedings.
Reactions and next steps
Outside of court, Mokbel showed affection to his partner before leaving, choosing not to speak to the media. He remains on bail and is expected to appear again later this month for a separate drug-related matter.
"The Court of Appeal has ruled that Tony Mokbel is no longer a 'serious drug offender'."
This ruling brings Mokbel one step closer to full freedom after spending more than 6,500 days in custody.
Author’s Summary
Tony Mokbel avoids additional prison time as Victoria's top court rules prior convictions void, reducing his 20-year sentence to time served after the Lawyer X scandal fallout.