Tony Mokbel’s Drug Sentence Dramatically Reduced on Appeal
Gangland figure Tony Mokbel will not spend further time behind bars following a significant reduction of his drug trafficking sentence on appeal. Originally sentenced in 2012 to 30 years in prison with a 22-year non-parole period, Mokbel pleaded guilty to orchestrating an extensive drug syndicate across three criminal cases.
Details of the Original and Revised Sentences
- The initial sentence included 20 years relating to one specific case.
- On Thursday, the sentence was reduced to 13 years, seven months, and 15 days.
- The court recognized this reduced sentence as "time already served" by Mokbel before the appeal.
Court Proceedings and Reactions
Mokbel showed respect by bowing to the justices and then kissed his girlfriend before leaving the courthouse silently, accompanied by his legal team.
“He is taken to have served that entire sentence,” said Justice Stephen McLeish during resentencing, highlighting that Mokbel was treated as a first-time drug offender and considering his prior head injury in custody.
Appeal Outcomes on Convictions
On October 3, the Court of Appeal, with Justices Stephen McLeish, Maree Kennedy, and Stephen Kaye, made the following decisions:
- Quashed one major drug conviction in the "Quills" case.
- Ordered a retrial on a second drug conviction related to the "Orbital" case.
- Upheld the third conviction in the "Magnum" case.
Summary
Tony Mokbel’s sentence reduction reflects the court’s consideration of his injury, previous case outcomes, and status as a first-time offender, allowing him to walk free.