Lawyer X: ‘Tomato Tins’ syndicate member John Higgs could be freed
The Lawyer X fiasco could result in a member of the “Tomato Tins’’ drug trafficking syndicate freed on bail by Monday.
Police & Courts
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Veteran criminal John Higgs – who is serving 18-years jail over his role in a world record ecstasy importation seized on Melbourne’s docks – could be free on bail on Monday.
Higgs, known as “Teeth”, is the latest “Tomato Tins” syndicate member to appeal his conviction over the Lawyer X fiasco.
The appeal was filed in December.
The 74-year-old, who watched the Court of Appeal bail hearing from Barwon Prison, has served nine years of a minimum 14-year prison sentence after his 2012 conviction over attempting to possess 15 million ecstasy tablets imported into Australia.
The ecstasy was hidden in 3000 tomato tins smuggled aboard cargo ship the MV Monica, which were seized at Melbourne’s port in June, 2007.
Authorities were tipped off to the massive drug importation by lawyer turned informer, Nicola Gobbo – aka Lawyer X – just weeks before it arrived.
Gobbo was given the shipping document by client Rob Karam – who was also involved in the importation.
She copied the document and gave it to Victoria Police.
Later, she was deployed to sting “Tomato Tins” syndicate members and later acted for some of those charged.
On Thursday, Higgs’ barrister, David Grace QC, told the court that although Gobbo was not on the record as Higgs’ lawyer, there was clear evidence she was acting for him while also informing on him to Victoria Police.
Gobbo, from 2010 to 2012, worked for solicitor Alex Lewenberg, gave advice on Higgs’ defence and attended case conferences, the court heard.
Victoria Police information reports reveal Gobbo in February, 2012, gave intelligence to her handler about Higgs and other known criminals just before his trial.
Emails were also produced detailing Gobbo’s work on Higgs’ defence.
The court was told Gobbo also influenced Higgs’ strategy during the trial.
“We say here are materials which clearly indicate that Gobbo was acting for Mr Higgs in a lawyer-client relationship and she was acting that way to inveigle her way into the confidence of Mr Higgs and others while acting as an agent of Victoria Police,’’ Mr Grace said.
The court heard Gobbo began a lawyer-client relationship with Higgs in the 1990s while initially working as a solicitor for Mr Lewenberg.
The court heard she recommenced the relationship in 2006 under her guise as a legal practitioner even though Higgs was not charged with any offence.
Gobbo is present at a series of meetings with Higgs, drug criminal Rob Karam and others in 2007 – around the period the Tomato Tins importation takes place.
Then, in August, 2008, the court heard Gobbo saw Higgs after his arrest over the Tomato Tins drug seizure.
“Lo and behold the first person to attend on him after his arrest is Gobbo in custody in August 2008,” Mr Grace said.
“This information finds its way into information reports and the like.”
Barrister Kevin Armstrong, for the Commonwealth, opposed the bail application.
Mr Armstrong said Higgs is still to serve five years before his non-parole period expired and said it was difficult to determine
Higgs’ prospects of a successful appeal.
The Court of Appeal will hand down its ruling by email on Monday at 11.30am.
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