Tony Mokbel
Encyclopedia
Antonios Sajih 'Tony' Mokbel (Arabic: طوني مقبل) (born 11 August 1965) is an Australian 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. Detectives from Operation Purana allege that he is the mastermind behind the Melbourne amphetamine
s 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. Prior to his arrest, there was a $1 million bounty for information leading to his capture. According to Victoria Police
, this reward still stands for the person who tipped off the police on his whereabouts. In the drama series Underbelly
Tony Mokbel is played by actor Robert Mammone
.
. At that meeting it is said that Mokbel was beaten, nearly to death, by Nik 'The Russian' Radev
's bodyguard, West Australian Troy Mercanti, who was a member of the Coffin Cheater motorcycle gang. 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 Mick Gatto was told that Veniamin and Mokbel became close allies.
He was reported to have paid convicted murderers, Keith Faure
and Evangelos Goussis
, A$150,000 for the murder of Lewis Moran
, the 23rd victim of the Melbourne gangland killings. 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.
Mokbel is also alleged to have laundered over A$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.
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's approval was obtained May 2008.
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 AU$450,000, though the Victorian state intends to regain the costs from Mokbel's criminal earnings.
He is currently imprisoned while on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court. The hearings are taking place at the County Court of Victoria complex to allow for increased security and media presence.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, who was a fugitive
Fugitive
A fugitive is a person who is fleeing from custody, whether it be from private slavery, a government arrest, government or non-government questioning, vigilante violence, or outraged private individuals...
until his recapture in Athens, Greece on 5 June 2007. He is of Lebanese descent and born in Kuwait. Detectives from Operation Purana allege that he is the mastermind behind the Melbourne amphetamine
Amphetamine
Amphetamine or amfetamine is a psychostimulant drug of the phenethylamine class which produces increased wakefulness and focus in association with decreased fatigue and appetite.Brand names of medications that contain, or metabolize into, amphetamine include Adderall, Dexedrine, Dextrostat,...
s 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. Prior to his arrest, there was a $1 million bounty for information leading to his capture. According to Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
, this reward still stands for the person who tipped off the police on his whereabouts. In the drama series Underbelly
Underbelly (TV series)
Underbelly is a 13-part Australian television mini-series that retells the real events of the 1995–2004 gangland war in Melbourne, and is the first series in the larger Underbelly Franchise. It depicts the key players in Melbourne's criminal underworld, including the Carlton Crew and their rival,...
Tony Mokbel is played by actor Robert Mammone
Robert Mammone
Robert Mammone is an Australian actor who has many television and film credits.-Filmography:* Sons and Daughters * All the Way * Embassy * The Crossing...
.
Allegations
It has been alleged that in late 2002 there was a meeting of more than 10 organised criminals in CarltonCarlton, Victoria
Carlton is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 2 km north from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
. At that meeting it is said that Mokbel was beaten, nearly to death, by Nik 'The Russian' Radev
Nik Radev
Nikolai "The Russian" Radev was a Bulgarian refugee who became known as a career criminal in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
's bodyguard, West Australian Troy Mercanti, who was a member of the Coffin Cheater motorcycle gang. Andrew 'Benji' Veniamin
Andrew Veniamin
Andrew "Benji" Veniamin was an Australian criminal, convicted car thief, murderer accused of killing 7 underworld figures and was one of the key figures involved in the Melbourne underworld killings...
was ordered by his then close associate, Dominic 'Mick' Gatto, to take Mokbel to a friendly doctor. In the following couple of weeks Mick Gatto was told that Veniamin and Mokbel became close allies.
He was reported to have paid convicted murderers, Keith Faure
Keith Faure
Keith George Faure , from Norlane, Victoria, is an Australian career criminal, convicted of multiple murders and manslaughters. He is currently serving life imprisonment with a minimum non-parole period of 19 years for his role in two murders related to the Melbourne gangland killings...
and Evangelos Goussis
Evangelos Goussis
Evangelos Goussis, is an Australian former boxer and kickboxer from Geelong, Victoria, and is a multiple murderer, guilty of the murders of two victims of the Melbourne gangland killings...
, A$150,000 for the murder of Lewis Moran
Lewis Moran
Lewis Moran was an Australian organized crime figure and patriarch of the infamous Moran family of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Notable for his involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings, Moran was shot dead in a Melbourne hotel The Brunswick Club in 2004...
, the 23rd victim of the Melbourne gangland killings. 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.
Mokbel is also alleged to have laundered over A$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.
Arrest in Greece
On 6 June 2007, it was announced by Greek police that Mokbel had been arrested in an local Athens cafe.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's approval was obtained May 2008.
On 17 May 2008, Mokbel arrived in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, 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 AU$450,000, though the Victorian state intends to regain the costs from Mokbel's criminal earnings.
He is currently imprisoned while on trial in the Victorian Supreme Court. The hearings are taking place at the County Court of Victoria complex to allow for increased security and media presence.
External links
- Mokbel drug counts dropped, bail extended - The Age, 2005-02-15
- Accused drug supremo barred from casino - The Age, 2004-06-02
- Why did 'Fat Tony' get bail?
- Antonios Sajih Mokbel at Melbournecrime.com