Tony Mokbel

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 This article documents a current court case.
Information may change rapidly as the case progresses.
Antonios Sajih Mokbel
Born 8 August 1965 (1965-08-08) (age 42)
Penalty 12 years imprisonment
Status Imprisoned (Australia)

Antonios Sajih 'Tony' Mokbel (b. 8 August 1965) is a gangster and a convicted drug trafficker from Melbourne, Australia, who was a fugitive until his recapture in Athens, Greece on 5 June 2007. Detectives from Operation Purana allege that he is the mastermind behind the Melbourne amphetamines trade. He has been linked to Carl Williams, as well as the killing of several victims of the Melbourne gangland war. He disappeared from Melbourne while on trial in March 2006, and was arrested by Greek police in Athens, Greece on 5 June 2007.[1] Prior to his arrest, there was a $1 million bounty for information leading to his capture.[2] According to Victoria Police, this reward still stands.[3]

Contents

[edit] Allegations

It has been alleged that in late 2002 there was a meeting of more than 10 organised criminals in Carlton. At that meeting it is said that Mokbel was nearly beaten to death by Nik 'The Russian' Radev's bodyguard, West Australian Coffin Cheater Troy Mercanti.[4] Andrew 'Benji' Veniamin was ordered by his then close associate, Dominic 'Mick' Gatto, to take Mokbel to a friendly doctor. In the following couple of weeks known associate of Mick Gatto, Deniz Bjelogrlic was told that Veniamin and Mokbel became close allies. Nik 'The Russian' Radev was the next underworld identity to perish.

He was reported to have paid convicted murderers, Keith Faure and Evangelos Goussis, $150,000 for the murder of Lewis Moran, the 23rd victim of the Melbourne gangland killings.[5] Mokbel has been investigated by Operation Purana.

He has also been charged with the murder of drug syndicate patriarch Lewis Moran, who was gunned down in 2004 in the front bar of the Brunswick Club in Sydney Road, Brunswick.[6]

[edit] Trial and disappearance

Mokbel was on trial over allegations that he imported cocaine from Mexico City .After expressing concerns for his safety, Mokbel went missing during his trial on 20 March 2006.[7] Police believe that Mokbel fled Australia with one of several fake passports, and that he transferred up to 20 million dollars into offshore accounts. He was reportedly tipped off by lawyer Zarah Garde-Wilson. [8]

He was convicted (in his absence) and was sentenced to twelve years jail.[9][10]

In March 2007, Australian Labor Party MP Kelvin Thomson resigned as Shadow Attorney-General on the Opposition front bench after it was revealed that he had written a character reference for Mokbel to assist his application for a liquor licence in 2001.[11][12]

Tony Mokbel's sister in law was convicted and sentenced to prison for failing to pay his 1 million dollar bail fee, as he had broken his bail conditions by fleeing Australia before he was convicted on drug importation charges.[13][14]

On 27 May 2007, it was reported through underworld sources that Mokbel was involved in a gunfight in Northern Lebanon, which he survived.[15] It is believed that Mokbel was tracked down by former friends of his who lost money in one of Mokbel's business ventures shortly before he disappeared last year to escape a jail conviction for the importation of cocaine, as well as to avoid being charged with the murder of underworld figure Lewis Moran.

[edit] Arrest in Greece

On 6 June 2007, it was announced that Mokbel had been arrested while drinking ahdghili with accomplice Abraham Mokdessi in an Athens cafe.

[edit] Extradition

Mokbel made every effort to avoid extradition to Australia. He has unsuccessfully made applications in Australia to cancel the Australian extradition attempt.

Lebanese authorities have foreshadowed making their own extradition request to the Greek courts. It is not known how Mokbel could have committed any significant crime that could be tried in or on behalf of Lebanon. It is alleged by Australian authorities that Lebanon's extradition machinations are actually an attempt to free Mokbel, and as such an abuse of power by the relevant Lebanese authorities.

Greek authorities have indicated the serious nature of the charges to be faced in Australia would see extradition to Australia take priority over Greek prosecution of lesser fraud and corruption charges.

On 18 March 2008, the Supreme Court in Athens granted Australia's request for his extradition. The Greek justice minister approval was obtained May 2008.[16]

On 17 May 2008, Mokbel arrived in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, at Tullamarine Airport in a chartered Gulfstream jet along with 8 security personnel. The cost of the flight drew some criticism, costing the state $450,000.

[edit] Court cases

[edit] References

  1. ^ Disguised Mokbel grabbed at seaside cafe - The Age, 2007-06-06
  2. ^ $1m on crime boss Tony's head - Sydney Morning Herald, 2007-04-10
  3. ^ $1m Mokbel reward up for grabs - The Age, 2007-06-06
  4. ^ Melbourne’s fatal gang wars came to Perth, court told - The West Australian, 2006-09-21
  5. ^ $150,000 to kill crime boss - Sydney Morning Herald, 2006-05-03
  6. ^ Mokbel on Moran murder charge - The Australian, 2007-02-28
  7. ^ Mokbel goes missing - The Age, 2006-03-20
  8. ^ Mokbel abroad with $20m: police - The Age, 2006-04-19
  9. ^ Mokbel sentenced to jail but missing - PM (ABC Radio), 2006-03-31
  10. ^ Mokbel to be sentenced in absentia - ABC News, 2006-03-28
  11. ^ MP resigns over gangland link - The Australian, 2007-03-10
  12. ^ ALP law chief quits over crook reference - Sydney Morning Herald, 2007-03-09
  13. ^ Tony Mokbel's sister-in-law in court - Australian Associated Press, 2007-03-30
  14. ^ Mokbel's sister-in-law jailed - ABC News, 2007-03-15
  15. ^ Mokbel in Lebanon gun fight - Herald Sun, 2007-05-27
  16. ^ Greek court orders Mokbel's extradition - World - theage.com.au

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Melbourne gangland killings
Victims · Greg Workman (1995) · Alphonse Gangitano (1998) · John Furlan (1998) · Charles Hegyaljie (1998) · Vince Mannella (1999) · Danny Catania (1999) · Gerardo Mannella (1999) · Joseph Quadara (1999) · Francesco Benvenuto (2000) · Richard Mladenich (2000) · Mark Moran (2000) · Dino Dibra (2000) · Victor Peirce (2002) · Paul Kallipolitis (2002) · Nik Radev (2003) · Jason Moran (2003) · Pasquale Barbaro (2003) · Mark Mallia (2003) · Housam Zayat (2003) · Graham Kinniburgh (2003) · Andrew Veniamin (2004) · Lewis Moran (2004) · Terrence Hodson (2004) · Christine Hodson (2004) · Lewis Caine (2004) · Mario Condello (2006)

Convicted murderers: Carl Williams · Keith Faure · Evangelos Goussis

Current trials:  · Tony Mokbel

Related articles: Operation Purana · Underbelly · Zarah Garde-Wilson