Omer Tok sentenced over fake passport

A Melbourne man who used a fake passport to travel to Turkey after being accused of being involved in massive cocaine shipment accusation has been sentenced.

Omer Tok was sentenced in the County Court after using a fake passport to flee the country in 2018.

A Melbourne man has been sentenced for using a fake passport to leave the country after he was accused of being linked to a massive cocaine shipment in Victoria’s southwest.

Omer Tok, 47, obtained and used a fake passport to travel to Turkey in 2018, after he was charged in relation to a bungled $60m cocaine shipment in Port Fairy.

Tok was arrested for the drug charges when he arrived back in Melbourne in 2023, however those charges have since been dropped and he has been cleared of any involvement of the importation.

Tok fronted the County Court on March 26 to be sentenced for dishonestly using a travel document in order to escape Australian authorities.

He was supported by his family, including his two adult daughters, who waved to him in the docks.

The court heard Judge Gavan Meredith characterise Tok’s offending as a “serious example” of the offence.

“You dishonestly obtained a passport to leave the country when you were facing serious criminal charges,” he said.

“The offending before me holds a 10 year maximum sentence.”

Tok appeared from custody in the County Court on March 26, supported by his daughters and other family members.

The court heard Tok provided fake images and a fake name in obtaining the passport, which enabled him to abscond to Turkey, leaving Australian authorities unable to extradite him.

Judge Meredith highlighted some of Tok’s prior offending in his sentence, some of which dated back to 1996.

“Your drug abuse began when you separated from your wife,” Judge Meredith said.

“You say this is when everything ‘fell apart’ for you.”

Tok had been on remand for the drug charges in 2018 before being released on bail, when he went about obtaining the fake passport.

“You’ve been at large for five years,” Judge Meredith said.

“At the time of your return, you were still facing the drug charges.”

Tok was sentenced to spend three years behind bars, but will be eligible for release on recognisance in 15 months time on a $5000 bond.