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Roberta faces driving charge
(Herald Sun)
October 31, 2007

Roberta Williams has appeared in court for again driving while disqualified, this time to visit her ex-husband in jail.

Ms Williams was pulled over twice by police on the Princes Freeway on January 20 this year on her way home from seeing convicted killer Carl Williams at Barwon Prison.

Earlier this month Ms Williams received a one-month suspended sentence for driving while disqualified, and warned she faced jail if she re-offended over the following four weeks.

Melbourne Magistrates Court today heard her license was suspended for six months after she was caught speeding in November last year.

The police prosector said Ms Williams told police, "I didn't know I was suspended".

Ms Williams was pulled over by police at 11.30am at Werribee for changing lanes without an indicator, and informed by police her license was disqualified, her lawyer told the court.

She was picked up 45 minutes later, and told police she had just found she was suspended, the court heard.

Ms Williams, 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of driving while disqualified, and one charge each of failing to indicate and failing to affix number plates.

Magistrate Duncan Reynolds sentenced her two months jail suspended for one year, imposed a $400 fine, and suspended her license for two months.

He described her actions as "cavalier", but said he took into account she lost her license last November through a traffic infringement, not a court order.

She had previously been convicted for driving while suspended in 1996.

Ms Williams' lawyer told the court she is homeless as of today, and her future is uncertain.

Her Essendon house has been sold by authorities to settle a ballooning proceeds of crime debt.

Williams is currently sole carer for her three children, and the court heard she will also become the sole carer for her sister's child, as her sister is suffering terminal cancer.

Williams' lawyer said she was trying to set up a hair extension business and wanted to put the past behind her.

Carl Williams is serving life in jail with a minimum of 35 years after admitting to murdering Jason and Lewis Moran, and Mark Mallia.

Kabalan Mokbel pleads guilty to drug trafficking
(Herald Sun)
October 29, 2007

A brother of fugitive drug lord Tony Mokbel has pleaded guilty to drug trafficking at Melbourne County Court.

Kabalan Mokbel, 45, was arrested in Melbourne on April 11, 2003, after detectives from the Victoria police Purana task force found a stash of methamphetamine in his car.

Mokbel, a truck driver from suburban Brunswick, appeared before Melbourne's County Court today, pleading guilty to one charge of trafficking a drug of dependence.

Judge Philip Coish adjourned the matter to November 12 for a presentence hearing and remanded Mokbel in custody.

His brother Tony is in jail in Greece awaiting extradition to Australia after skipping the country last year near the end of his trial for trafficking cocaine.

Bugged phone led to arrest
(The Age)
October 29, 2007

A secret witness who helped trace wanted international fugitive Tony Mokbel to his Greek seaside hideaway is in line for a $1 million reward once the alleged drug trafficker and murderer is finally extradited to Australia.

The Mokbel insider, who has worked for the Purana gangland taskforce for the past seven months, was able to help pinpoint Mokbel's location within weeks of agreeing to assist police.

The man, who has been officially designated "Registered Informer 3030", was one of the most trusted subordinates working for the Mokbel cartel known as "the Company." He agreed to work for the police just weeks after they announced in April a $1 million reward for Mokbel's capture.

Police investigators say the insider was able to provide information on Mokbel and four of his most trusted lieutenants. According to police sources, the man wanted to exact revenge on the Company because his brother died of a drug overdose.

The informer was given the job of providing Mokbel with a new passport and fresh mobile phones so the drug syndicate head could continue to control his Australian operation from Athens.

But 3030 passed on a phone that was bugged by police. Believing the phone to be clean, Mokbel used it to give instructions that implicated him in a pattern of drug production and distribution.

The passport provided to Mokbel was later altered to register the name of a fictitious Sydney businessman, Stephen Papas. Some close to Mokbel say this was the alias used by the suburban football club Mokbel supported when it wanted to use a ring-in player.

As well as providing the bugged phone, 3030 was able to introduce two police undercover agents into the Company.

He helped police crack the Company's international money route, first through an electronic transfer of $400,000 to Athens under the name Papas, and later by uncovering the secret cashflow that ended up with Mokbel in Greece.

As part of Operation Magnum, Purana detectives thwarted a delivery of more than $500,000 that was to be sent to Mokbel from Melbourne.

Police watched a Mokbel courier collect $440,000 hidden in a Collingwood storage facility on May 5 and then receive another $60,000 from a syndicate member. They set up a sting so they could seize the money without alerting Mokbel that his secret cabinet had been infiltrated.

Instead of Purana making the arrest, they used uniformed police to intercept the courier — making it look as though they accidentally discovered the money during a routine car check.

A marked police car slipped in behind the courier's vehicle in Box Hill. The courier became nervous when he saw the police car and kept checking his mirror, which is why he did not see the red light he ran on the Maroondah Highway. It gave police the perfect opportunity to pull him over. That was when they found the package of $499,950 in cash. They seized a further $8950 at his home.

One of the team rang Mokbel to inform him the cash was gone. Mokbel, in Athens, told the subordinate not to worry. He would ensure the same amount would be in his hands within six days. Put it down to a business expense, he said.

On May 15, when police identified Mokbel's hideaway as somewhere in the Athens suburb of Glyfada, a Purana detective and a federal agent were sent to work with local police. The search area was further narrowed when Mokbel said on the bugged phone he was heading to a local Starbucks for a coffee.

In early June police narrowly missed the fugitive. They knew Mokbel and his partner, Danielle McGuire, took their six-month-old daughter to a local pool for swimming lessons. Police arrived at the pool just minutes after the family had left.

Three days later police were tipped off that Mokbel would visit a small seaside restaurant for a financial meeting and would be carrying a folder with paperwork. They arrived at the crowded restaurant but could not spot the balding head of the fugitive.

The local police then carried out what was to appear to be a routine identity check. A well-tanned man with long dark hair opened a folder to produce a passport with the name Stephen Papas. The Purana detective saw it was Mokbel in a wig.

At first the suspect appeared relaxed, believing he would be able to bribe his way out of any minor passport offence. But his face dropped when he saw the Purana detective. He had the good grace to say: "I don't know how you did it, but you've done a brilliant job."

Mokbel, who jumped bail in March 2006 and was sentenced to a minimum of nine years' jail for cocaine trafficking, has been charged with new drug offences and two counts of murder.

Although he is being held in a top-security Athens prison, he has gained access to another mobile phone and has contacted Purana to try to cut a deal where the murder charges would be dropped. "I'm a drug dealer, not a killer, " he told an investigator.

Mokbel, who has been sentenced to 12 months' jail for passport offences, is continuing to fight a Greek court's decision to allow extradition to Australia.

A senior Melbourne police source said informer 3030 was certain to be paid a substantial reward. "He provided the breakthrough and he deserves to be paid for the risks he took and the information he provided."

Gelb avoids jail
(AAP)
October 29, 2007

A Melbourne psychiatrist who took a loaded gun into a Melbourne court has avoided time behind bars.

Dr Jerry Gelb, 49, was found to have a loaded .22 pistol and several rounds of ammunition when he entered the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on February 1.

Gelb, of Prahran, was attending court that day to apply for an intervention order against his ex-wife.

At the Victorian County Court today, Judge Leslie Ross placed Gelb on a 12-month intensive community corrections order, to be served in the community, and fined him $1800.

He described Gelb's offending as "serious" and said evidence suggested the psychiatrist was in a disturbed and anxious state at the time.

Gelb initially told police he was carrying the gun for protection, after he had received threats by and on behalf of his ex-wife, the court heard.

However, he has since withdrawn the allegations against his ex-wife, the court heard.

He had previously pleaded guilty to charges, including possession of an unregistered handgun and possession of a handgun on court premises.

Gelb's friend and security guard David Schmack, 41, of Dandenong, appeared alongside him in court today over charges that arose after he removed an unregistered gun from Gelb's house to prevent police finding it.

He was placed on a community-based order which will involve 300 hours of community work and counselling. He was also fined $900.

He pleaded guilty to charges including attempting to pervert the course of justice and hindering police.

Moody papers seized
(The Age)
October 26, 2007

Racing Victoria grilled trainer Peter Moody for over two hours yesterday, confiscating phone and bank account records, as the inquiry continued into whether accused drug dealer Horty Mokbel is linked to the ownership of Pillar of Hercules.

Racing Victoria's chief steward, Des Gleeson, said Caulfield trainer Moody had handed over all relevant information about the one-time Victoria Derby second favourite, and that the hearings into the matter would be closed to the media.

After yesterday's hearing stewards then returned to Moody's home at Caulfield racecourse, interviewing him for several hours and collecting more paperwork.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court issued a restraining order on the 75 per cent of the horse owned by Irene Meletsis after an application from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A police affidavit on Moody claims he was secretly recorded talking to Horty Mokbel about the purchase of Pillar of Hercules. The police affidavit claims conversations between Moody and Horty Mokbel took place in October and November last year before Pillar of Hercules was registered with the Registrar of Racehorses.

Police claim that Moody contacted Mokbel in October and asked him to visit his stables to see a horse.

He then sent him a text message in November asking him what name he wished to call the horse, which is believed to have been Pillar of Hercules.

The three-year-old was purchased for $475,000 at the Sydney Easter yearling sales under the name of Moody Racing. Investigators believe the horse was bought by Horty Mokbel . Police claim the details of who owned the horse were false.

The affidavit also claims that Moody leased stables adjacent to Caulfield racecourse from Horty Mokbel's wife, Zaharoula.

Mrs Mokbel has been committed for trial on charges of obtaining property by deception.

Moody's wife, Sarah, owns 25 per cent of Pillar of Hercules, but her ownership is not in question.

The remaining 75 per cent of the horse is owned by Irene Meletsis, who, it is believed, has never seen the horse.

Ms Meletsis is married to Tom Karas, who is believed to have links to the Mokbel family and to the murdered underworld figure Mario Condello.

Horty Mokbel, 43, was charged in April with two counts of trafficking methylamphetamine and remanded in custody. He is the elder brother of fugitive drug baron and accused murderer Tony Mokbel.

Chief steward Gleeson said the Racing Victoria inquiry was only into the ownership of the horse and possible contravention of the rules of racing.

Other issues mentioned in the restraining order are being investigated by the police.

Until the ownership can be verified, Pillar of Hercules is banned from racing, effectively ruling out a start in the Victoria Derby on Saturday week.

Accused CBD shooter in court
(Herald Sun)
October 25, 2007

A man charged over Melbourne CBD's triple shooting has appeared in court over a separate incident involving AFL star Alan Didak.

Christopher Wayne Hudson, is accused of shooting dead solicitor Brendan Keilar and wounding Dutch backpacker Paul de Waard, 23, and former Sydney model Kaera Douglas, 24, in the June 18 shooting.

Mr Hudson, 31, is charged over the shooting with one count of murder, two of attempted murder, one count of unlawful imprisonment and one of intentionally causing serious injury.

He appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court today charged with firearms offences over another incident in which shots were fired at a suburban factory.

The nine offences relate to events where shots were fired from a car at a factory in suburban Campbellfield and at Kensington, on June 12.

AFL player Alan Didak found himself embroiled in controversy after he was questioned by police about a chance meeting with Mr Hudson on June 12.

Didak met Mr Hudson at a Melbourne nightclub and accepted a lift with him on that night.

Police have said Didak will not face any charges over the incident.

Defence lawyer Theo Magazis requested an adjournment on the latest charges so the court could deal with all Mr Hudson's matters together.

Mr Hudson faces three charges of recklessly discharging a firearm, two of using a firearm to resist apprehension and three of using a firearm on a public road over the factory shooting.

He also faces one charge of being a prohibited person using an unregistered firearm.

Magistrate Peter Couzens granted the adjournment, saying the delay was not unreasonable.

He adjourned the matter to a committal mention hearing on November 7.

Moody heard on Horty Mokbel taps: police
(The Age)
October 24, 2007

A horse rated one of the favourites for the Victoria Derby was bought as part of a big money-laundering operation, according to court documents.

A sensational police affidavit also claims that:

LEADING trainer Peter Moody, whose wife owns a quarter share of the horse, was secretly recorded discussing the colt's purchase with Horty Mokbel, a brother of drug fugitive Tony Mokbel.

MOODY trains his horses at stables leased from a member of the Mokbel family.

MONEY obtained through loans may have been used to buy the horse, Pillar Of Hercules, to cover up money from drug trafficking.

A WOMAN registered as the majority owner of the horse knows nothing about racehorses and has never been to a racetrack.

The Herald Sun was told yesterday that Irene Meletsis, who allegedly owns 75 per cent of Pillar Of Hercules, has never seen the horse.

Pillar Of Hercules yesterday was still an $8 equal fourth favourite for Saturday week's Derby, but is unlikely to run.

Owners of the horse, who won a major lead-up race last Saturday, would have to pay a late entry fee of $82,500 to get a start because he was not entered for the Derby.

Moody told stewards he planned to run the three-year-old in the Group One Mackinnon Stakes on Derby Day instead.

But the disputed 75 per cent share of the chestnut colt was restrained by a Supreme Court judge on Tuesday after an application by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Moody said yesterday there had been no impropriety in the ownership of Pillar Of Hercules, who was bought for $475,000 at the Easter yearling sales last year.

"Neither myself, my wife Sarah, or Moody Racing or any of my staff have at any time had any dealings or associations with people known to have a criminal record or criminal ties," he said.

An affidavit by Det-Sgt James Coghlan, of the anti-gangland Purana Taskforce, said Horty Mokbel gambled extensively on horses and he and his brothers were well known in the racing industry.

Det-Sgt Coghlan said the brothers had been seen with bookmakers, jockeys, owners and trainers – including Peter Moody.

The affidavit said Moody "leases a number of stables" in Kambrook Rd, Caulfield, from Horty Mokbel's wife, Zaharoula.

The stables and an adjacent property are among six properties restrained under an order against Zaharoula Mokbel on November 9 last year, and another against Horty Mokbel on May 28 this year. The other properties are in Coburg, Preston and Safety Beach.

Mr Mokbel was charged in April with two counts of trafficking methylamphetamine and remanded in custody.

Ms Mokbel has been committed for trial on charges of obtaining property by deception over loans of almost $2.3 million.

The affidavit refers to conversations between Moody and Horty Mokbel, which were intercepted and recorded in October and November last year.

Det-Sgt Coghlan said that on October 27, Moody contacted Mr Mokbel and told him to come to the stables to see a horse.

On November 17, Moody sent Mr Mokbel a text message saying "need a name".

The affidavit said investigators believed the communications related to buying Pillar Of Hercules.

Ms Meletsis is the director of a loan broking company called State Credit Corporation.

Her husband, Tom Karas, manages the company, which has offices in La Trobe St.

The Herald Sun believes Mr Karas has links to the Mokbel family and murdered underworld figure Mario Condello.

Purana investigators went to State Credit Corporation's offices with a search warrant earlier this month and seized loan files signed by Zaharoula Mokbel.

Det-Sgt Coghlan said police spoke to Mr Karas, who said he knew nothing about horse racing and had never been to a racetrack in Victoria.

He said his wife, Ms Meletsis, "knows nothing about horses and she has never been to a racetrack either".

Det-Sgt Coghlan said investigators believed the horse had been bought by Horty Mokbel.

"Ownership details have been falsified so as to avoid detection by police," the affidavit said.

It said police believed funds obtained from loans "may have been used to purchase the racehorse as part of a large-scale money-laundering operation, in an attempt to cover up the extent of monies derived from drug trafficking".

Buckley to be questioned over Mokbel link
October 24, 2007

The Australian Crime Commission is expected to order millionaire businessman and prominent racing identity Sean Buckley to give evidence about his relationship with convicted drug trafficker Tony Mokbel.

The order comes as the ACC and Victoria Police's Purana gangland taskforce continue to identify assets concealed by the Mokbel family.

Mr Buckley — the major part-owner of the horse considered to be the world's best sprinter, Miss Andretti, and the driving force behind the UltraTune car-care business — bought Tony Mokbel's Kilmore horse property in 2004.

He was also one of the first people interviewed by police after Mokbel skipped bail last year.

The Mokbel asset investigators are checking records to identify horses that may be registered under sham owners on behalf of the alleged crime syndicate.

On Tuesday, Racing Victoria ordered that Pillar of Hercules — a possible Victoria Derby runner — be banned from competition while police investigate whether Mokbel's brother Horty owns 75 per cent of the horse.

The majority share is listed under the name of Irene Meletsis, but police claim Horty Mokbel, who is on remand on $40 million drug trafficking charges, is the real owner.

The remaining 25 per cent of the horse is owned by Sarah Moody, the wife of trainer Peter Moody, who yesterday said he had provided all relevant documents to Racing Victoria.

Chief steward Des Gleeson said the horse was first registered under the two women's names last year.

"For the police to put a restraining order on the horse, they must have had suspicions that Mr Horty Mokbel was involved in the ownership of the horse," he said. "Our concerns are that the rules of racing are complied with. A horse must be raced in the correct ownership."

Peter Moody said: "I expect that it is all a storm in a teacup. I don't know who the friends and associates are of most of my owners. There's the privacy issue. Do you dig into everyone's background?"

Mr Buckley's expected appearance at the ACC will be as a witness, not a suspect.

As part of the police investigation, authorities will speak to a Melbourne restaurateur linked to both Mr Buckley and Tony Mokbel, who connects owners in horse syndicates.

Despite being banned from owning horses since 1998, police believe Tony Mokbel has continued to use the names of friends and associates to hide financial interests.

In that year racing authorities refused to accept that Mokbel's then wife, Carmel, had given her part-ownership of two-year-old filly Brief Promise to Michelle Cassidy, the wife of jockey Larry Cassidy. The horse was later sold.

This year at least seven racing professionals, including jockeys, trainers and bookies, were called to the Australian Crime Commission to explain their relationship with Mokbel.

The commission was told Mokbel used the name of an associate to bet and in one week during the 2002 spring carnival turned over $450,000 with one bookie.

Derby fancy 'linked to Horty'
(Age-H/Sun)
October 24, 2007

Police and racing authorities have launched another dramatic strike at the Mokbel clan's crumbling crime empire, banning an emerging star race horse from the Melbourne spring carnival.

Racing Victoria last night ordered that Pillar of Hercules — a leading contender for next month's Victoria Derby — be barred from competition pending an investigation into its possible connection with accused drug dealer Horty Mokbel.

Mokbel, 43, who is in prison facing charges of trafficking $40 million of amphetamines, is the older brother of underworld fugitive Tony Mokbel, now the subject of extradition proceedings in Greece.

Racing Victoria stewards have interviewed prominent Melbourne trainer Peter Moody, whose wife Sarah is listed as a 25 per cent owner of Pillar of Hercules. The owner of the other 75 per cent is listed as Irene Meletsis.

Moody said he was shocked by the revelations of the day.

"As far as I'm concerned, there's no impropriety in the ownership of the horse," Moody said.

The remaining 75 per cent of the horse is owned by Irene Meletsis, who bought into the horse in November. Sources said it was the first horse raced by Meletsis and that her partner bought the horse for her.

Supreme Court Justice Robert Osborn yesterday granted a restraining order on Ms Meletsis' majority stake in the horse for the purposes of "satisfying any forfeiture order that may be made in relation to alleged offender Horty Mokbel", a statement from Racing Victoria said.

Chief steward Des Gleeson said later the trainer had been advised that for Pillar of Hercules to continue racing "we need to be satisfied with the bona fides of the ownership … He must supply supporting documents that stipulate Mrs Meletsis is in fact the owner of the 75 per cent share of the horse that the restraining order concerns. The horse won't be running anywhere until we're completely satisfied."

The dramatic move came three days after Pillar of Hercules won the $125,000 Norm Robinson Stakes at Saturday's Caulfield Cup meeting. The win catapulted the three-year-old colt into contention for the prestigious $1.5 million Victoria Derby, to be run on November 3.

The move on Pillar of Hercules is part of a three-pronged attack on the Mokbel clan's involvement in racing by the police anti-gangland Purana taskforce, the Australian Crime Commission and Racing Victoria.

In March this year, The Age revealed that some of Australia's most prominent trainers, jockeys and bookmakers had been called to give evidence as part of a secret Australian Crime Commission investigation of Tony Mokbel's links to the racing industry.

For several years, the younger Mokbel has been banned from owning race horses and attending race tracks in Victoria.

Last year, Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon extended the race track ban to Horty Mokbel, as well as imposing a ban on him visiting Crown Casino.

The Crime Commission investigation into Tony Mokbel uncovered "ghost" bookmaking accounts set up to allow Mokbel to place massive bets just weeks after he was bailed on serious drug charges.

Racing authorities have been concerned at Tony Mokbel's influence in racing circles since 1997 after he formed the "tracksuit gang" to organise co-ordinated betting plunges in Victoria, NSW and Queensland.

In 1998 he was investigated over the ownership of horses and the next year he and his then wife, Carmel, were banned from owning racehorses.

And in 2004 he bragged of winning $400,000 on Melbourne Cup day despite nearly $20 million of his assets having been frozen by police.

Tony Mokbel was arrested in Athens on June 5 this year, after vanishing during the final days of his cocaine trafficking trial in March 2006. He was convicted and sentenced to up to 12 years' jail in absentia.

Peter Moody, Sarah Moody and Ms Meletsis could not be contacted last night.

The Mokbel family has been previously linked to other racing identities including Sean Buckley, the owner of champion mare Miss Andretti, and former top jockey Jim Cassidy.

McNamara running airport security
(Herald Sun)
October 23, 2007

A disgraced detective banished from Victoria Police is now a security boss at Melbourne Airport.

Kerry McNamara was sacked from the police force amid claims he bashed, robbed and stole drugs from dealers in Melbourne.

However Victoria Police and three other agencies later cleared him for a vital airport security pass because he had no criminal convictions.

Mr McNamara is divisional manager for ISS, an international company that provides security at the terminals of most airlines at Tullamarine. Its work includes operating passenger scanning sections and transport gate checkpoints.

Mr McNamara has an aviation security identification card, despite a police internal investigation that was highly critical of him.

Melbourne Airport said ASIC cards are issued after checks with Victoria Police, the Australian Federal Police, the Federal Department of Transport and ASIO.

The Victoria Police disciplinary report on Mr McNamara branded him unethical and disgraceful.

The damning report stated: "You have consistently assaulted members of the public, stolen their money and stolen any drug material you found on them.

"Your behaviour has been without regard for the law or the rights of members of the public and has been completely unethical."

Mr McNamara did not appear before a police disciplinary hearing into the allegations. He was sacked from Victoria Police in late 1998.

He never faced criminal charges because there was no reasonable prospect of securing a conviction.

He was earlier thrown out of the police Special Operations Group amid claims of bastardisation, in which recruits were allegedly shocked with a stun gun and paint balls shot at their bare buttocks.

Mr McNamara also organised the costly Tasty nightclub raid of 1994, which cost the force $10 million in compensation after 450 patrons were strip-searched.

And a gunman who wounded a policeman in 1999 later claimed he had opened fire on the officer because he did not want to be handed over to Mr McNamara.

Mr McNamara's involvement in airport security continues two years after the Federal Government approved tough measures, including tighter background checks on airport staff, after recommendations by British airport security expert Sir John Wheeler.

"This was dealt with 10 years ago. I passed all my probity checks at both state and federal level. I don't see what the issue is," he said.

ISS chief executive officer Charles Blinkworth said Mr McNamara had never been charged, and he believed he had not been sacked by Victoria Police but had quit.

"From my understanding, he resigned," he said.

Mr Blinkworth said Mr McNamara had been with ISS for six years and would have gone through the most rigid of checks before being given airport security clearance.

"There are very stringent tests. They don't pass them out lightly," he said.

"There's never been an issue with (Mr McNamara). He's very good. He's had a commendation for some very good work. A lot of it's just hearsay.

"We want to be transparent. There's nothing hidden."

The Herald Sun reported in December 2000 that Mr McNamara was sacked in late 1998. A police spokesman said then he was "dealt with swiftly".

"We followed all procedures. The bottom line is, he was dismissed from the police force," spokesman Kevin Loomes said.

A spokesman for Melbourne Airport said yesterday anyone who wanted to work for a security company had to apply to Victoria Police's licensing services division.

The person would then have to go through an aviation security identification card check involving state police, the Australian Federal Police, the Department of Transport and Regional Services, and ASIO, he said.

Victoria Police said its criminal checks were done against state and national databases in order to determine if job applicants had convictions.

A spokesman said the organisation did not check on character.

He said if someone had been sacked for poor behaviour, it was up to the new employer to check their references or to obtain the opinions of previous bosses.

A DoTaRS spokesman said it would be inappropriate for it to comment on questions relating to Mr McNamara based on "claims or allegations" about criminal behaviour.

"Questions relating to his employment, his performance, or alleged criminal background are matters for his employer and, where appropriate, the police," the spokesman said.

"Screening is overseen at airports by screening authorities.

"These screening authorities are specified by the secretary of the department.

"The screening authorities are responsible for the employment of screeners at airports."

Gelb feared for his life, court told
(Herald Sun)
October 23, 2007

A psychiatrist who brought a loaded gun into the Melbourne Magistrates Court was being conned into thinking his life was in danger, a court heard.

Prosecutor John McArdle, QC, told the court the pyschiatrist and his wife Kerry Gelb falsely believed they were under threat from Gelb's ex-wife Sharon Guy.

"Dr Gelb and his wife Kerry had entertained notions they were to be assassinated,'' Mr McArdle said.

Security officers at the Melbourne Magistrates Court found a .22 calibre Ruger pistol in Gelb's backpack when it was x-rayed at the entrance to the court on February 1 of this year.

Gelb, his wife and their security man David Schmack, 41, had come to court seeking an intervention order against Ms Guy.

The court heard a police search of the Gelb's Armadale home uncovered a cache of weapons including a longarm shotgun, a speargun, slingshot and cattle prod.

Gelb's defence counsel, Philip Dunn, QC, told the court Gelb's house had been turned into a fortress on the advice of the man who told him he was in danger.

After his arrest and Ms Guy's public denial of any threat, Mr Dunn said Gelb realised he had been the victim of a hoax.

"In April 2007, he realised his ex-wife really hadn't been intending to kill him at all,'' Mr Dunn told the court.

"He was the victim of a misunderstanding.''

Gelb, of Prahran, is pleading guilty to two counts of possessing an unregistred gun, one count of bringing a firearm on to court premises, two counts of unlawful possession of a controlled weapon and one count of possessing a prohibited weapon.

Schmack, of Dandenong North, is pleading guilty to one charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice in relation to hiding one of Gelb's unregistered guns in his car.

Schmack is also pleading guilty to two counts of possessing a dangerous article after police found a wooden pole and a crowbar in his car.

The plea before Judge Leslie Ross continues. More on Jerry Gelb

Renate lodges more documents
(Herald Sun)
October 18, 2007

Renate Mokbel is making a surprise further attempt to get out of jail this week lodged documents in the Supreme Court to begin a second appeal against her two-year sentence.

Her lawyer, Mirko Bagaric, said he could not recall another case where a person with no prior convictions was given the maximum sentence in Victoria for a non-heinous crime.

Supreme Court judge Bill Gillard ordered Ms Mokbel to hand over the $1 million bail she put up for her cocaine-smuggling brother-in-law Tony Mokbel.

Justice Gillard ordered Ms Mokbel, 36, be jailed for two years if she failed to provide the $1 million within 31 days of his April 2006 ruling.

Ms Mokbel was later jailed for two years after failing to come up with the money.

Justice Gillard, who has since retired, complained at the time about only being able to jail Ms Mokbel for two years.

"The period of two years imprisonment has been the maximum since 1977 and, in my view, is an inadequate period when the undertaking to pay a sum is fixed as high as $1 million," he said at the time.

Attorney-General Rob Hulls immediately agreed to examine the judge's request for higher maximum sentences for those who renege on their promise to pay up if an accused fails to meet bail conditions.

Ms Mokbel claimed in documents lodged in the Supreme Court this week that Justice Gillard erred by not conducting a sentencing hearing in her case.

She also claimed he failed to take into account various mitigating circumstances, including that she had no prior convictions.

The mother of three described her two-year jail term as manifestly excessive.

Mr Bagaric today claimed Ms Mokbel's case had mistakenly been treated as a civil one, rather than a criminal one.

That meant that the normal sentencing process whereby mitigating circumstances are considered by a court did not occur.

Ms Mokbel has already failed in one Court of Appeal attempt to have her sentence reduced.

It is extremely rare to appeal to the same court a second time, but Mr Bagaric believes there are grounds to do so in this case.

"There were two separate and autonomous judgments made by the judge in Renate's case," he said.

"She has already appealed, and lost, on the second judgment. It is the first judgment, where the sentence was actually imposed, that is now being appealed."

The time period to appeal against the April 2006 judgment has already lapsed so Ms Mokbel has also lodged documents seeking an extension.

Mr Bagaric said he had only recently started representing Ms Mokbel, hence the lateness of the appeal being lodged.

He is also representing Tony Mokbel in his High Court attempt to prevent the Australian Government extraditing him from Greece to Victoria to face murder and drug charges.

Arrested man link to gang war
(Herald Sun)
October 18, 2007

A Melbourne gangland figure linked to an underworld murder plot was among three people arrested in an early morning swoop.

He faces weapons and drugs charges after a routine street patrol in St Kilda West uncovered a loaded gun after stopping the vehicle in Beaconsfield Pde.

The man arrested, from Keilor Downs, was linked to prominent crime identities interviewed over the plot to murder Lewis Moran inside Port Phillip Prison.

A 25 year-old woman from Narre Warren was charged with possession of the loaded .38 calibre handgun allegedly found in the car.

William's papers seized
(Herald Sun)
October 16, 2007

Carl Williams's plans to write a book about his life of crime have hit a hurdle after part of his manuscript was seized by prison authorities.

Barwon Prison officers have impounded pages of manuscript the notorious gangland killer was attempting to post to his father, George.

The Herald Sun understands Corrections officials were concerned some of the material in the papers could pose a security risk.

Individuals whose names are the subject of court-ordered suppression orders were identified in the manuscript, which was found among legal papers being sent from the prison last week.

Williams' former wife Roberta yesterday confirmed plans were in train for a book telling her husband's story.

"We are writing a book. We're trying to find a ghost-writer or a publisher at the moment," she said.

Ms Williams recently supported an author's promotion of a book on the gangland wars that extensively portrayed her family's involvement.

Carl Williams is being held in Barwon Prison's Acacia unit, the most secure prison compound in Victoria.

Police predicted yesterday that his prose would need a lot of polishing before being published.

"I think it's safe to say it would need a fair bit of ghost-writing," one source said.

"I couldn't see him giving Jeffrey Archer a run for his money."

Williams is prohibited by law from making money by writing about his criminal exploits.

The notorious drug dealer has been convicted of four killings during Melbourne's bloody underworld war.

The victims were amphetamine industry figure Michael Marshall, crime patriarch Lewis Moran and his standover man son Jason, and western suburbs drug dealer Mark Mallia.

Laws stopping prisoners sending letters to their victims and families have been passed by State Parliament.

Premier John Brumby introduced the legislation in August amid anger that Hoddle St killer Julian Knight was using the courts in an attempt to write to his victims.

Under changes to the Corrections Act 1986, the state's prison governors will have the power to intercept letters sent by prisoners if they believe the letter contains material that may be distressing or traumatic.

Prisoners sending or trying to send such material will now face a maximum penalty of up to six months' imprisonment for doing so.

Mokbel's ex-wife gets third reprieve
(Herald Sun)
October 16, 2007

Tony Mokbel's ex-wife has won a third reprieve in her court battle to keep an interest in three properties frozen by the courts.

Carmel Delorenzo has applied to the County Court claiming an interest in a Boronia property and two properties in Kilmore, including the Red Lion Hotel.

In an affidavit, filed in the court on Ms Delorenzo's behalf, it is claimed the property was not tainted or subject to Mokbel's control and that she acquired her interest lawfully by reason of her marriage.

It claims Ms Delorenzo has a 50 per cent shareholding in the Red Lion and was a director with George Joseph Taouk in the company that ran it.

The Director of Public Prosecutions has applied to have Ms Delorenzo's application dismissed.

Papers were lodged with the court last year, but the civil trial has now been adjourned three times in the past year.

The case was set for trial on Monday but lawyers for Ms Delorenzo and Mr Taouk successfully applied for another adjournment yesterday.

The court heard a matter in the Federal Court had to be decided before the County Court trial could proceed.

Sergi in firing line
(Herald Sun)
October 12, 2007

The jailing of a gunman over a shootout with police revealed a drug ring's bid to kill a man it feared would turn informer.

Being charged over the world's biggest ecstasy bust appears to have put Antonio Sergi's life at risk.

Evidence suggests those who organised the 2005 importation to Melbourne of five million ecstasy pills feared he was likely to expose them.

Mr Sergi, 33, was wounded during one attempt on his life, and police believe they foiled a second bid to execute him.

The first attempt to silence Mr Sergi was in the early hours of November 13, 2005, after he was lured to Moonee Ponds.

Three shots were fired as he sat behind the wheel of his parked car, and he was hit in the chest and both arms. The gunmen fled after Mr Sergi pretended to be dead.

Despite extensive injuries, Mr Sergi was able to drive to the nearby Moonee Ponds police station for help.

But he later told the armed offenders squad's Sen-Det Justin Tippett he didn't want to make a formal complaint and didn't want the shooting investigated.

Sen-Det Tippett warned Mr Sergi his life and the lives of his family and girlfriend were in grave danger.

"I accept those warnings; however, I wish to deal with my safety and that of my family in my own way," Mr Sergi said in a November 18, 2005, statement.

Evidence suggests the warning was correct. It appears a second attempt was made to kill him three months later.

Neighbours saw alleged hitman Craig Bradley sitting in a car outside Mr Sergi's home in Dundee Way, Sydenham, about 7.30am on February 11 last year. But Mr Sergi was sleeping at a friend's house.

Bradley, 38, was back near Mr Sergi's home the following night. Police suspect he was on his way to kill Mr Sergi, but he crashed his stolen car into a house in Meade Way about 10.10pm.

He was arrested after a gun battle with Acting Sgt Glenn Saw and Sen-Constable Ross McCann.

When police searched him, they found two scraps of paper in his pocket.

One was a photocopy of a photograph of Mr Sergi; a cross had been drawn over Mr Sergi's right eye.

The other bore Mr Sergi's address and the registration number of his car.

But police didn't have enough evidence to charge Bradley over this, and once again, Mr Sergi wasn't interested in pursuing charges.

If he had intended exposing members of the organised crime syndicate, as it had feared, the attempts on his life appear to have persuaded him otherwise: he didn't turn informer.

Mr Sergi was one of four men who, in July, were acquitted of charges relating to the 1.2 tonne ecstasy shipment.

Cleared with him were Tony Mokbel associate Rob Karam, Anton Claite, and Christopher Stavreff. Those who organised and paid for the $350 million importation were never identified.

The County Court jury in the ecstasy trial was not told that an attempt had been made to kill Mr Sergi.

In the absence of the jury Mr Sergi's lawyer, Paul Higham, said the shooting was linked to the ecstasy importation.

"It seems that there is no doubt that its purpose was to effectively silence Mr Sergi," Mr Higham said.

Two other men, Mark Aisbett and Antonio Giampaolo, were found guilty of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of ecstasy.

In August, they were jailed for six years and ordered to serve a minimum of four before being eligible for parole.

Supreme Court judge Betty King this week jailed Bradley for nine years and three months over the shootout.

Jurors were not told Mr Sergi had been shot and that three months later Bradley was arrested near Mr Sergi's home while carrying a photograph of him and details of where to find him.

The details were not admitted in evidence on the grounds that they might influence jurors against Bradley.

No decision on Mokbel
(Reuters)
October 9, 2007

Greece's top court today postponed the hearing of an Australian request to extradite its most wanted fugitive until December 4 in order to wait for a final Australian court decision on the extradition.

Lawyers for Tony Mokbel have challenged the extradition request in Australian courts, arguing it should not have been signed by the country's justice minister but by the attorney general.

Greece's Supreme Court said it would wait for a final decision from Australia in November before ruling on the extradition of the fugitive known as "Fat Tony", wanted at home in connection with a murder of a rival crime boss and for a drugs conviction.

"The court has accepted our request and we will wait for the federal (Australian) court to issue a decision on our appeal," lawyer Alexandros Likourezos told reporters.

Mokbel, who is suspected of involvement in the