Lawyer X: Detective says Nicola Gobbo’s ‘name was mud’
A senior gangland detective has denied he told a man to seek legal advice from Lawyer X, Nicola Gobbo, midway through 2005 because he suspected she was feeding information to the Mokbel cartel and says she had a “terrible reputation”.
True Crime
Don't miss out on the headlines from True Crime. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A senior gangland detective has hit back at allegations he encouraged a Tony Mokbel associate to call barrister turned supergrass, Nicola Gobbo, after his arrest.
Detective Sergeant Paul Rowe has denied he told a man, known as “Mr Bickley”, to seek legal advice from Gobbo midway through 2005 — a month before she was registered as a police informer — because he suspected she was feeding information to the Mokbel cartel.
“The last person I would want him to ring at that time was Ms Gobbo,” Sgt Rowe told the Lawyer X royal commission on Tuesday.
“Her name was mud, she had a terrible reputation within the (major drug unit). No one wanted anyone to contact her.”
On Monday, Mr Bickley gave evidence he met Tony Mokbel after the drug king pin strolled into his cleaning store posing as a bricklayer looking for “pure” chemicals to clean his bricks.
Mr Bickley was arrested by police months later after his factory was taken over by the Mokbel crew when pill presses were brought in.
He claimed the Purana detective dialled Gobbo’s number at the police station and handed him the phone.
Gobbo secured his bail after just 23 days in custody.
Mr Bickley said Sgt Rowe told him “you’re f---ed” after arresting him again some months later in a sting organised by police with the help of Gobbo.
RELATED
GOBBO BURNS EVERYTHING SHE TOUCHES
But Sgt Rowe denied this, telling the commission he never used that language and Mr Bickley called Gobbo on his mobile phone on the way to the police station.
“In the circumstances, I don’t think it needed to be said … he knew immediately the situation he was in,” he said.
Sgt Rowe said Mr Bickley indicated he wanted to make a statement before even arriving at the police station.