Zlate Cvetanovski acquitted because of Lawyer X betrayal
The Lawyer X scandal has led to another acquittal with a man cleared of drug trafficking after spending nearly a decade behind bars.
The Lawyer X scandal has led to another landmark acquittal in Victoria after a man was cleared of drug trafficking after spending nearly a decade behind bars.
Zlate Cvetanovski was acquitted of trafficking a commercial quantity of methylamphetamine on Friday because of the involvement of disgraced barrister Nicola Gobbo.
“There was a substantial miscarriage of justice,” Court of Appeal Justice Chris Maxwell said when handing down his decision.
The now 54-year-old was found guilty of the crime in 2011 but had been represented by the lawyer-turned-police informer since 2006.
Outside court a smiling Mr Cvetanovski welcomed the decision and said he was “very happy”.
“I feel fantastic,” he said.
“It’s life changing, … one chapter closes and another one opens.”
The state’s prosecutors conceded it was “unjust” to pursue another trial against the man because he was jailed on the evidence of a drug cook who conspired with Ms Gobbo.
The drug cook, known as “Mr Cooper”, became a prosecution witness and incriminated Mr Cvetanovski at the behest Ms Gobbo, the court was told.
“Unbeknown to the applicant, Ms Gobbo was a registered police informer, was acting as Mr Cooper’s legal adviser and had persuaded Mr Cooper to co-operate with police and incriminate the applicant,” Justice Maxwell said.
Along with “moral support”, the notorious lawyer and Victoria Police sent secret payments to the drug cook into the thousands.
“This included regular payments into his prison canteen fund as well as one-off payments to him,” Mr Maxwell said in his decision.
Mr Cvetanovski was released on bail in May to appeal the conviction, which has now been quashed.
Last year Faruk Orman walked free from jail when he was acquitted of murder after it was revealed the barrister worked as a police informer and a defence lawyer.
Eight other gangland figures have launched appeals, including Tony Mokbel, because of the two-timing lawyer.
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