After spending a good portion of the last decade in Barwon Prison’s high-security units, former gangland boss Tony Mokbel is now experiencing a strict new bail regimen. He must adhere to about 30 conditions, including a curfew, daily reporting at a nearby police station, and a ban on using smartphones or encrypted apps. Mokbel is being monitored by an ankle bracelet provided by a private bail company, which he pays $25,000 a year to keep him secure outside of prison. He is not allowed to leave the state or go near any points of “international departure.” Mokbel is infamous for orchestrating one of the most famous escapes in Australian history almost 20 years ago, when he smuggled himself out of the country in a specially designed yacht before being apprehended in Greece wearing a bad wig.
Despite his notoriety as one of the few surviving bosses of the original gangland war in Melbourne, Mokbel’s fame is expected to afford him some protection on the streets amidst a new and brutal battle for control of the black-market tobacco trade. However, he may not be welcome everywhere, as he was among the first individuals banned from Crown Casino and helped incite a ban on suspected organized crime figures from racetracks when he attended Oaks Day at Flemington while on bail. Following his release on bail, Mokbel visited the graves of his mother and brother who had passed away while he was incarcerated. His sister agreed to put up a $1 million surety, with $100,000 from a bank cheque and the remainder in equity from a home in Yallambie, to secure his release. Mokbel assured the court that he would comply with all bail conditions, citing strong community ties including a long-term girlfriend, and stating that he had changed after surviving a serious assault in jail in 2019.
Mokbel’s return to the public eye comes amid revelations that his lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, was a secret police informer known as “Lawyer X.” Several gangland figures have been granted bail or had their convictions overturned as a result of this revelation. Since Mokbel’s release, he has been spotted in public wearing a black sportswear ensemble, complete with an electronic monitoring bracelet on his ankle. He visited his mother’s and brother’s graves soon after his release and has been seen with his sister and her family installing security cameras at her home. Mokbel’s past escapades, including his infamous yacht escape, have added to his criminal legend in Melbourne, making his re-entry into society a subject of much scrutiny and interest.
Despite his criminal past and reputation, Mokbel is now subject to strict bail conditions and electronic monitoring, aiming to keep him in check and prevent any further escapes or criminal activities. The multimillion-dollar drug empire that he once ran has given way to a more subdued lifestyle under the watchful eye of his ankle bracelet and the bail company tracking his movements. With his sister’s support and a significant surety put up for his release, Mokbel is attempting to reintegrate into society and abide by the conditions imposed upon him. The saga of Tony Mokbel, once a feared crime boss, now plays out in the public eye as he navigates the challenges and limitations of life on bail, closely monitored and under the watchful gaze of the law enforcement authorities.
