Tony Mokbel enjoys Good Friday with mystery partner as he laps up freedom

Tony Mokbel has been spotted enjoying his new-found freedom on Good Friday, picking up a copy of the Herald Sun before heading to church and tucking into fish and chips with his partner.

Tony Mokbel’s first Good Friday since he was granted his freedom started with a coffee – and a copy of the paper.

The former drug kingpin has spent the last two weeks on bail enjoying his new lease on life after spending 18 years behind bars.

Hand-in-hand with his mystery long-term partner, Mokbel was spotted on Friday morning in a short-sleeve white shirt, blue jeans, black sneakers and a snazzy watch.

Mokbel checks in at Heidelberg police station. Picture: Brendan Beckett

He picks up two bottles of water and a copy of the Herald Sun at a service station. Picture: Brendan Beckett

The first port of call was the Heidelberg Police Station for his daily check-in with officers to comply with his stringent bail conditions.

The couple then popped into a nearby Ferguson Plarre’s Bakehouse for a coffee before driving to Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church in Thornbury for a Good Friday service.

On the way, Mokbel ducked into a service station, re-emerging with water and a copy of the Herald Sun wedged under his arm.

Mokbel walking hand-in-hand with his mystery partner. Picture: Brendan Beckett

The couple grabs coffee before heading to church. Picture: Brendan Beckett

Mokbel, who had been locked up in Barwon Prison, was released on bail pending his appeal against his drug trafficking convictions, which is expected be heard later this year.

The Herald Sun revealed more than a decade ago that his barrister Nicola Gobbo – dubbed Lawyer X – had been secretly informing on her clients.

NSW Justice Elizabeth Fullerton last year found that police took part in a “joint criminal enterprise” when they enlisted Gobbo to take down Mokbel.

“He has a very strong case that his convictions … should be quashed,” Court of Appeal president Karin Emerton said as she granted him bail on April 4.

Mokbel enjoys lunch at a fish and chip shop. Picture: Brendan Beckett

He visited his mother’s grave at Fawkner Memorial Park hours after he was released. Picture: Alex Coppel

After leaving church, Mokbel and his partner visited the Blu fish and chip shop, tucking into a Good Friday lunch.

He has previously been spotted shopping at Northland and taking a stroll at a Viewbank park near his sister’s house, where he was ordered to live while on bail.

Hours after he was granted his freedom, Mokbel visited his mother’s grave at Fawkner Memorial Park as he promised he would.

Originally published as Tony Mokbel enjoys Good Friday with mystery partner as he laps up freedom