First pictures: Tony Mokbel’s emotional farewell to mother at her gravesite

See the exclusive first images of Tony Mokbel’s life as a free man, as the drug kingpin follows through on his promise to visit his mother’s grave and say farewell.

EXCLUSIVE: Drug kingpin Tony Mokbel has visited the grave of his mother just hours after walking free from 18-years in jail.

Mokbel, as he promised months ago, was driven to Lora Mokbel’s gravesite at Fawkner Memorial Park by his brothers, Horty and Kabalan, and other family.

Dressed in black, Mokbel took his hat off and touched the marble tombstone with his hand before genuflecting.

Mokbel was in prison when his mother died in 2013.

She is buried with his father, Sajih.

Drug kingpin Tony Mokbel has visited the grave of his mother just hours after walking free from 18-years in jail. Picture: Alex Coppel

Tony Mokbel visits his mother's grave in Fawkner Cemetery, after being released from the Victorian Appeal Court in Melbourne. Picture: Alex Coppel

Mokbel then visited the grave of his brother, Milad, who succumbed to motor neurone disease in 2020.

The Mokbels had arrived to pick up their infamous brother from court in a Mercedes Benz just hours earlier as police paved a path for him to walk from Victoria’s Appeal Court where he was sensationally granted bail on Friday.

The gangland figure’s court victory was built on the findings of Justice Elizabeth Fullerton, who presided over a fact finding hearing last year.

Tony Mokbel visits his mothers grave in Fawkner Cemetery. Picture: Alex Coppel

Exclusive first images of Tony Mokbel, visiting his mother’s grave after being released from prison on bail.=Picture: Alex Coppel

The Fullerton findings on how Victoria Police’s recruitment of Mokbel’s lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, contaminated his case will be the road map to his appeal, to be heard in months.

Mokbel is the fourth prisoner to be released over the Lawyer X scandal following the release of Faruk Orman, Zlate Cvetanovski and Salvatore Agresta.

Agresta, like Mokbel, was granted bail but has since been returned to jail to serve out his sentence.

Mokbel was granted bail by the Court of Appeal on Friday — almost 18 years and 6514 days after he last tasted freedom. He visited his mother’s grave in Fawkner Cemetery. Picture: Alex Coppel

Tony Mokbel visits his mothers grave in Fawkner Cemetery Picture: Alex Coppel

Orman told News Corp the justice system relies on fairness.

“Everyone should have a fair trial considering the power imbalance between the citizen and the state,” Orman said.

“At the end of the day the state has all the power and the resources.

“At very least a citizen should get a fair trial.”

Zlate, a friend of Mokbel’s, said he planned to see him soon.

“Justice delayed is justice denied, but justice served — no matter how late — is justice still earned, he said.

Mick Gatto wished Mokbel well.

“Anyone who has had any dealings with Lawyer X or Joe Acquaro should be out of jail,” Gatto said.

“It was perverting the course of justice at the highest level.

“I wish Tony all the best and I hope he enjoys the rest of his life.”

Justice Karin Emerton said in her ruling that Mokbel’s appeal case was strong.

The court ruling could give others renewed hope.

Drug lords Pasquale Barbaro and John Higgs, convicted of the 2007 “Tomato Tins” ecstasy importation, still have appeals on foot.

Convicted gangland killer Ange Goussis is also appealing on the Lawyer X principle.

Mafia don Rocco Arico is appealing his conviction alleging his lawyer Joe Acquaro was a police informer while acting for him.

Originally published as First pictures: Tony Mokbel’s emotional farewell to mother at her gravesite