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Lawyer X scandal sees more criminal appeals
A drug trafficker with a known association to the infamous Tony Mokbel has asked for bail as the Victorian Crown prosecutor conceded Nicola Gobbo interfered with his prosecution.
Naomi Neilson
Zlate Cvetanovski, who was arrested over a Melbourne drug lab in 2006, is an associate of gangland leader Mr Mokbel and a then-target of Ms Gobbo’s informing. He is now arguing that evidence against him was tainted by Lawyer X, who asked one of her clients to testify against him during his prosecution in an attempt to bring down a drug cartel.
Brendan Kissane QC, Victoria’s chief Crown prosecutor, conceded that had the evidence of Ms Gobbo’s client been excluded, “there would not have been a case”.
Mr Cvetanovski is one of many seeking to have their conviction overturned due to Lawyer X’s informing. Faruk Orman successfully appealed his 12-year murder sentence over the tainted evidence of one of Ms Gobbo’s clients.
Mr Mokbel, who is serving a 30-year sentence, will also seek to appeal his sentence and Lawyers Weekly understands that Paul Dale will soon seek action too.
This comes after mafia figure Saverio Zirilli had his first hearing in the Victorian Court of Appeal due to Ms Gobbo’s involvement in the “Tomatoes Tins” importation scandal.
More to come.
Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
You can email Naomi at:
