Judge reveals how ‘Lawyer X’ Nicola Gobbo betrayed drug lord Rob Karam

A judge has revealed how corrupt barrister Nicola Gobbo betrayed one of her most notorious clients.

Jailed drug lord Rob Karam’s case could finally be nearing its end.

Jailed drug lord Rob Karam is a step closer to resolving his years-long battle to be heard on the Lawyer X scandal.

Justice Robert Osborn has handed down his ruling on the murky facts of Karam’s case, which has stagnated through the courts since he began his appeal in 2017.

A dozen questions were left with Justice Osborn to make a finding of facts, including what lawyer-turned-snitch Nicola Gobbo told Victoria Police about Karam, who knew about it and who was provided with the information.

Significantly, Justice Osborn also had to decide on whether Gobbo had a conflict as both Karam’s lawyer while also acting as a police informer.

Among the findings, Justice Osborn found that Gobbo was conflicted by her dual roles.

The ruling also set out money paid to Gobbo by both Karam and Victoria Police.

Gobbo was privy to Karam’s defence strategy as he faced criminal trials for massive drug importations.

Justice Osborn found Gobbo was conflicted in her duel duties as Karam’s lawyer.

Karam, an associate of Tony Mokbel, has been on police radar since the late 90s.

Karam, an associate of Tony Mokbel, became a target of both Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police from the late 1990s onwards.

But the former freight forwarder had no idea Gobbo was a police informer during their relationship, which blurred social and professional lines.

Gobbo’s information led police to seize the infamous 2007 “Tomato Tins” importation, which led to the arrest of Karam and more than 30 individuals.

Mafia figures such as Pasquale Barbaro, Saverio Zirilli and Melbourne fruiterer and mob boss Frank Madafferi were also convicted over their roles in the gang.

Gobbo has alleged she was given the “bill of lading”, a shipping document, from Karam and gave it to her police handlers, leading to the seizure of a world record ecstasy haul estimated at $440 million on the street.

The ecstasy was hidden in more than 3000 tins of tomato sauce.

There remains dispute over whether Karam provided the “bill of lading” or whether another person handed her the document.

Karam’s appeal is set to be heard by the end of 2023.

The Appeals Court will make a ruling that Karam’s appeal be dismissed or alternatively quash his convictions and order a retrial or acquit him.

Karam is serving a 37-year jail sentence.

Originally published as Judge reveals how ‘Lawyer X’ Nicola Gobbo betrayed drug lord Rob Karam