Top cop’s Lawyer X case immunity

A high-ranking police officer has been granted immunity from criminal prosecution over evidence he will give in a drug lord’s Lawyer X appeal case.

Drug trafficker Rob Karam.

A high-ranking police officer has been granted immunity from criminal prosecution over evidence he will give in a drug lord’s Lawyer X appeal case.

Superintendent Jason Kelly, a witness in the appeal of major drug trafficker Rob Karam, became the first officer to request a “certificate’’ from judge Robert Osborn during a Supreme Court proceeding on Thursday.

After being asked whether he had given a statement to the ­Lawyer X royal commission in 2019, Mr Kelly said: “I would like to object to answer that question on the grounds it could incriminate me.’’

Justice Osborn, after taking Mr Kelly through his options, granted him a certificate stating: “There are reasonable grounds for the objection and a realistic possibility the evidence may tend to incriminate him.” The judge said the offence that might place Mr Kelly in jeopardy was perverting the course of justice.

Mr Kelly was directed to give his evidence by way of affidavit before the next hearing.

Victoria Police has also applied for a suppression order over parts of the case, particularly the investigation into the alleged mafia double-murder plot that Mr Kelly investigated.

The perverting the course of justice implications for police surround their use of Nicola Gobbo to sting her clients.

Gobbo, who had been a registered police informer, acted for Karam while police tried to crack an alleged conspiracy to assassinate Fedele “Freddy the Bear” D’Amico and another man.

The events that led to the alleged murder contract were triggered when Gobbo, aka Lawyer X, tipped the police to a massive ecstasy smuggling operation in 2007. After federal police seized 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy hidden in 3000 tomato tins in Melbourne’s port, members of the syndicate scrambled to organise more drug importations to cover the loss.

The chaos led to infighting, with members alleged to have plotted to kill those they suspected of betraying them.

The “vengeance’’ plots to kill D’Amico and the other man were allegedly planned on three ­occasions, police say: at a kick­boxing tournament at Docklands in Melbourne on March 28, 2008; the following night at Mick Gatto’s son’s wedding, also at Docklands, in which D’Amico was again the target; and at the Reggio Calabria Club in Parkville on July 24, 2008.

The Australian Federal Police managed to thwart the hits.

Although charges were laid over the conspiracy to murder plot, no convictions were landed.

Karam, who has served about a decade of his 37-year jail sentence, is seeking to quash his multiple convictions. His appeal case will resume at a later date.

A special investigator to probe whether criminal charges should be laid over the Lawyer X saga will be announced this month.

HERALD SUN