Lawyer X Nicola Gobbo was ‘too close to Mokbel’ cop says
A top cop who recruited Lawyer X said their taskforce had a “widespread” belief lawyers were undermining the criminal justice system to protect bigwigs such as Tony Mokbel.
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Criminal lawyers were used as cogs in organised crime networks during Melbourne’s gangland war, a police officer who recruited Lawyer X said.
Detective Senior Sergeant Paul Rowe said it was the “widespread’’ belief of the anti-gangland Purana taskforce that lawyers were undermining the criminal justice system to protect bigwigs such as Tony Mokbel from prosecutions.
He said barrister turned informant Nicola Gobbo had that reputation and was too close to clients such as Mokbel.
Those suspicions were confirmed when Gobbo phoned Sen-Sgt Rowe before a court hearing, worried Mokbel would be mentioned and her reputation could be damaged.
Sen-Sgt Rowe said the phone call and subsequent meeting outside the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court was “extraordinary’’.
Gobbo, he said, alluded to having been involved in criminal activity and perverting the course of justice for key client Mokbel.
She told Sen-Sgt Rowe she would appear for Mokbel underlings to find out the strength of evidence against the drug boss and prevent anyone from “rolling”.
He said Gobbo told him she felt compelled to put Mokbel’s interests above other clients.
Sen-Sgt Rowe said, at its worst, her conduct representing the Mokbel drug cartel was an attempt to “pervert the course of justice”.
He said Gobbo was upset during the meetings and was looking for a “way out”.
Gobbo was due to act in a bail application for a Mokbel underling but believed she had a conflict of interest and phoned Sen-Sgt Rowe.
“She was indicating she didn’t want to do what she was perceived she was being forced to do by Mr Mokbel,” Sen-Sgt Rowe said.
He and his partner met with Gobbo the next day and convinced her to start providing information against Mokbel’s drug cartel.
“This is not a case of us pouncing on an injured mouse crawling on the floor,” he said.
“She was under enormous pressure and looking for a way out. A hand of friendship.”
He said he had no way of knowing the extent of her exposure to the underworld, “not just as a lawyer but as a friend and associate”.