Tony Mokbel

Infobox Criminal
subject_name = Antonios Sajih Mokbel


image_size =
image_caption =
date_of_birth = Birth date and age|1965|8|8|df=y
place_of_birth = Kuwait
date_of_death =
place_of_death =
alias =
charge =
conviction =
penalty = 12 years imprisonment
status = Imprisoned (Australia)
occupation =
spouse =
parents =
children =

Antonios Sajih 'Tony' Mokbel (b. 8 August 1965) is a criminal and a convicted drug trafficker from Melbourne, Australia, who was a fugitive until his recapture in Athens, Greece on 5 June 2007. He is of Lebanese descent and born in Kuwait.cite news|url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/04/21/1145344281209.html?from=top5|title = Meet the Mokbels at home in Lebanon| first = Ed|last = O'Loughlin| date = 2006-04-22| accessdate = 2008-07-09| publisher = The Age] 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. [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/bewigged-mokbel-nabbed-in-cafe/2007/06/06/1180809556420.html Disguised Mokbel grabbed at seaside cafe] - "The Age", 2007-06-06] Prior to his arrest, there was a $1 million bounty for information leading to his capture. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/1m-on-crime-boss-tonys-head/2007/04/10/1175971060468.html $1m on crime boss Tony's head] - "Sydney Morning Herald", 2007-04-10] According to Victoria Police, this reward still stands. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/1m-mokbel-reward-up-for-grabs/2007/06/06/1181089128357.html $1m Mokbel reward up for grabs] - "The Age", 2007-06-06]

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. [ [http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=28&ContentID=7515 Melbourne’s fatal gang wars came to Perth, court told] - "The West Australian", 2006-09-21] 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. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/150000-to-kill-crime-boss/2006/05/03/1146335793380.html?from=rss $150,000 to kill crime boss] - "Sydney Morning Herald", 2006-05-03] 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. [ [http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21301146-5006785,00.html Mokbel on Moran murder charge] - "The Australian", 2007-02-28]

Mokbel is also alleged to have laundered over $2 million via a high-profile Melbourne CBD brothel which he purchased through a business associate. One of Mokbel's amphetamine producers also ran a brothel in the Melbourne south eastern suburbs whilst another Mokbel gang member who trafficked large amounts of drugs for Mokbel also ran a brothel. [ [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21641647-661,00.html "Business washed drug cash" by Keith Moor] "Herald Sun 2007-04-30"]

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. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/03/20/1142703289129.html Mokbel goes missing] - "The Age", 2006-03-20] 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. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/04/19/1145344155767.html?from=top5 Mokbel abroad with $20m: police] - "The Age", 2006-04-19]

He was convicted (in his absence) and was sentenced to twelve years jail. [ [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1606165.htm Mokbel sentenced to jail but missing] - "PM (ABC Radio)", 2006-03-31] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200603/s1603048.htm Mokbel to be sentenced in absentia] - "ABC News", 2006-03-28]

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. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21352118-2,00.html MP resigns over gangland link] - "The Australian", 2007-03-10] [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/thomson-quits-alp-frontbench-over-letter/2007/03/09/1173166958060.html ALP law chief quits over crook reference] - "Sydney Morning Herald", 2007-03-09]

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. [ [http://www.thewest.com.au/aapstory.aspx?StoryName=369235 Tony Mokbel's sister-in-law in court] - "Australian Associated Press", 2007-03-30] [ [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200703/s1872543.htm Mokbel's sister-in-law jailed] - "ABC News", 2007-03-15]

On 27 May 2007, it was reported through underworld sources that Mokbel was involved in a gunfight in Northern Lebanon, which he survived. [ [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21800582-2,00.html Mokbel in Lebanon gun fight] - "Herald Sun", 2007-05-27] 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.

Arrest in Greece

On 6 June 2007, it was announced that Mokbel had been arrested while drinking hot chocolate in an Athens cafe. He was wearing a wig when they captured him.

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.

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. [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/greek-court-orders-mokbels-extradition/2008/03/18/1205602387179.html Greek court orders Mokbel's extradition - World - theage.com.au ] ]

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.

Court cases

* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSCA/1998/64.html R v Moran & Mokbel (1998) VSCA 64] , 9 October 1998
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/cases/vic/VSC/2001/403.html DPP v Mokbel (2001) VSC 403] , 19 October 2001
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2002/127.html Mokbel v DPP (2002) VSC 127] , 26 April 2002
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2002/312.html Mokbel v DPP (No 2) (2002) VSC 312] , 9 August 2002
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/disp.pl/au/cases/vic/VSC/2002/393.html Mokbel v DPP (No 3) (2002) VSC 393] , 4 September 2002
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2005/410.html R v Mokbel (2005) VSC 410] , 4 November 2005
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2005/476.html Mokbel v DPP & Anor (2005) VSC 476] , 13 December 2005
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2005/502.html R v Mokbel (No 2) (2005) VSC 502] , 19 December 2005
* [http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/vic/VSC/2006/119.html R v Mokbel (2006) VSC 119] , 31 March 2006

References

External links

*cite news | first=Gary | last=Hughes | coauthors= | title=The gangster, the consultant, the MP and her husband | date=April 23 2007 | publisher= | url =http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21610195-601,00.html | work =The Australian | pages = | accessdate = 2007-04-23 | language =
* [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Crime--Corruption/Mokbel-drug-counts-dropped-bail-extended/2005/02/15/1108230006676.html Mokbel drug counts dropped, bail extended] - "The Age", 2005-02-15
* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/02/1086058917038.html Accused drug supremo barred from casino] - "The Age", 2004-06-02
* [http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2006/1604817.htm# Why did 'Fat Tony' get bail?]
* [http://www.melbournecrime.bizhosting.com/tony.mokbel.htm Antonios Sajih Mokbel at Melbournecrime.com]