Gangland cop to request immunity in court

A cop linked to the Lawyer X scandal is expected to request immunity from incriminating himself in a courtroom.

Akey investigator examining an alleged plot to kill underworld player Fedele ‘Freddy the Bear’ D’Amicoi s expected to request immunity from incriminating himself in a courtroom.

A gangland cop is on Thursday expected to become the first officer linked to the Lawyer X scandal to request immunity from incriminating himself in a courtroom.

Superintendent Jason Kelly was a key investigator examining an alleged plot to kill underworld player Fedele “Freddy the Bear” D’Amico by mafia figures involved in the infamous Tomato Tins drug importation.

The events that led to the alleged kill plot were triggered when barrister-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo – Lawyer X – tipped the police to the massive ecstasy smuggling operation in 2007.

After the AFP seized ecstasy hidden in 3000 tomato tins in Melbourne’s port, members of the syndicate were forced to scramble to organise more drug importations to cover the loss.

The chaos led to infighting, with members alleged to have plotted to kill those they suspected of betraying them.

One of the syndicate, drug lord Rob Karam is appealing massive drug importation convictions relating to stings in part triggered by Gobbo’s tips.

Fedele D'Amico.

Karam – about a decade into a 37-year jail term – was a close friend of Gobbo, who was also his lawyer.

And with Karam’s case back in the Supreme Court on Thursday, Supt Kelly is set to become the first detective to be scrutinised in a courtroom over the use of Gobbo as an informer.

But while Supt Kelly is expected to take the stand, Victoria Police has applied for a suppression order over parts of the case, particularly the investigation into the alleged mafia double-murder plot.

Agent provocateur and femme fatale Gobbo was also used by police in an attempt to crack the alleged conspiracy to assassinate D’Amico and another man.

Nicola Gobbo

Dozens of police were hauled before the Lawyer X royal commission, which ran from 2019 to 2020.

As a result of the commission, the government will this month appoint a special investigator to probe whether criminal charges should be laid against officers over the use of Gobbo to inform on clients.

The “vengeance” plots to kill D’Amico and the other man were allegedly planned on three different occasions.

These were at a Docklands kickboxing tournament on March 28, 2008, the next night at Mick Gatto’s son’s wedding and the Reggio Calabria Club in Parkville on July 24, 2008.

The Australian Federal Police managed to thwart the hits. Although charges were laid no convictions were landed over the alleged kill plots.