Underworld figure Tony Mokbel spotted reporting to police after release
The former Melbourne underworld figure Tony Mokbel was sensationally bailed by the Court of Appeal on Friday after two decades behind bars.
Former Melbourne underworld figure Tony Mokbel has fulfilled his bail conditions on Sunday, reporting to police in his first weekend of freedom in two decades.
Mokbel, 59, was sensationally bailed by the Court of Appeal on Friday, as an impending appeal over his convictions, tainted by his police informant lawyer, draws closer.
After 18 years behind bars, the courts have found Mokbel’s appeal has a reasonable chance of success.
His sister has put up a $1m surety on Mokbel adhering to 30 bail conditions.
Just days after his release, Mokbel was spotted on Sunday morning leaving Heidelberg police station after reporting to police.
Photos showed the crime boss dressed in a navy button up collared shirt and jeans as he left the police station.
He was earlier spotted on Saturday going for a walk with family, before hopping into a vehicle a few hours later and heading to the police station for his daily check in.
He told reporters on Saturday he has been instructed by lawyers “not to talk to anyone”.
After a year on the run in Greece and then 18 years in prison, on Friday Mokbel spent time with his children and saw his mother’s grave for the first time.
On Saturday, a 75 inch TV and flatpack furniture were delivered to his sister’s house.
The notorious figure has made no attempt to dodge the media upon release, with no decoy cars or disguises used.
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Mokbel, is fighting to overturn his convictions in the wake of the Lawyer X scandal which saw his longtime legal confidant, Nicola Gobbo, unmasked as a police informer in 2019.
Mokbel was a central figure in Melbourne’s gangland wars of the 1990s and 2000s, and after being arrested in Greece, pleaded guilty to a host of drugs charges.
But the actions of Victoria Police and Ms Gobbo have either nullified or cast serious doubt on the convictions of multiple men, and Mokbel’s appeal case is “very strong”, one of the Court of Appeal justices said on Friday.