Hundreds of gangland convictions in Australia could be overturned after mob lawyer named as police informant
- Court documents show that a top Melbourne barrister had been giving information to Victoria Police for years
- The unnamed lawyer’s clients included a crime boss and his associates
Hundreds of criminal convictions – including those meted out to some of Australia’s most notorious gangland figures – hang in the balance, after their defence lawyer was revealed as a police informant on Monday.
Court documents disclosed that a high-profile Melbourne barrister had for years been giving information to Victoria Police, while representing clients like crime boss Tony Mokbel and six of his associates.
The revelation came after court injunctions were lifted on Monday, blowing the lid off one of the biggest legal scandals to hit the country in years and prompting the authorities to immediately announce a public inquiry.
In a secret court battle spanning more than two years, police had tried to stop state prosecutors from telling the seven people about their barrister’s supergrass role. They were finally knocked back by Australia’s highest court last month.
The High Court blasted police as being “guilty of reprehensible conduct” and said they were “involved in sanctioning atrocious breaches of the sworn duty of every police officer”.