It has been a long, fruitless search to find some ‘redeeming features’ in Tony Mokbel

A former associate sees some good in a criminal. Remy Varga, The Australian, February 11:

Nicola Gobbo has defended her formerly close relationship with then client Tony Mokbel, claiming the drug kingpin “does have some redeeming features”. The former lawyer-come-supergrass said her low self-esteem and ambition dragged her into Melbourne’s criminal underworld and saw her fraternising with gangsters, crooks and bikies. “There were periods of time where it was in my interests in terms of my self-esteem and achieving more and what I thought was important to cultivate relationships with these people,” she said. The lawyer for Victoria Police, Saul Holt QC, then asked Ms Gobbo: “Why did you ever have want to be friends with Tony Mokbel?” She replied: “I wouldn’t say friends, but … like every person, he (Mokbel) does have some redeeming features.”

His mother Lora loved him. Anthony Dowsley and Mark Buttler, Herald Sun, May 15, 2013:

Lora Mokbel refused to believe her son was a notorious drug trafficker, saying only that he had been arrested for travelling to Greece, and wept at the thought he would be separated from his children. “I promise, I promise Tony is a very good boy,” she told the Herald Sun.

No byline, thanks. A staff reporter, The Age, January 30:

Crime boss Tony Mokbel has threatened the life of one of the senior police officers responsible for his prosecution and jailing for drug trafficking. Victoria Police sources say the threat against the detective — who once worked in the Purana anti-gangland taskforce — is considered genuine and credible and is now under investigation … the veteran officer … is receiving special protection.

Definitely no byline. A staff writer, Sunday Herald Sun, January 18:

Police are investigating threats made against journalists who wrote articles about jailed drug lord Tony Mokbel. Detectives within Victoria Police’s crime command are part of the probe. The force confirmed the threats from an aggrieved associate of the drug kingpin.

Heartless? Sarah Farnsworth, ABC, September 11 last year:

Mokbel met two drug squad detectives at Yarra Bend Park and tried to broker a deal … Mokbel tells them he was “relieved” when underworld figure Mick Gatto killed Andrew “Benji” Veniamin, and he goes on to defend the 2003 murder of his rival Jason Moran.

Tell him he’s dreaming. Anthony Dowsley and Patrick Carlyon, Herald Sun, December 27 last year:

Drug baron Tony Mokbel will make a bold attempt to be freed from prison early due to the Lawyer X scandal … Mokbel’s legal team made inquiries … about gaining a bail hearing, as the one-time fugitive hoped to be released before Christmas.

He’s got Buckley’s. John Silvester, The Age, August 3 last year:

If Tony thinks he can disappear if his convictions are quashed, then his recent bang on the head from a prison bashing has damaged his thought process. Not only has he forgotten that he pleaded guilty, he also doesn’t remember there is a truckload of statements, recordings and forensic evidence that has not been presented.

Peter Gregory, The Sydney Morning Herald, May 6, 2006:

Tony Mokbel was one of two men who agreed to pay $150,000 for the execution of crime patriarch Lewis Moran, a judge has said in jailing a gangland killer.