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Drug trafficker made to wait longer for Lawyer X hearing date
A convicted drug trafficker who is appealing his sentence on the grounds Nicola Gobbo tainted his trial has been told to wait longer for a hearing date, four years after lodging.
Naomi Neilson
Nicola Gobbo
Rob Karam, close associate of underworld figure Tony Mokbel, has been serving a 35-year prison sentence for high-level drug trafficking offences and is likely to spend most of his life behind bars if his appeal, potentially slated for next year, is unsuccessful.
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In a direction’s hearing on Wednesday, 14 October, Mr Karam’s lawyer was told that he would have to wait even longer to learn the date of his hearing but that it would likely proceed when the court returns next year. His legal team is seeking that two appeals – for the Tomato Tins appeal and the Inca appeal – could be heard together but this remains to be seen.
Mr Karam, who lodged for the appeal in 2016 but was made to wait several years while a number of other matters were heard – including the High Court decision to reveal the name of Lawyer X – wishes to have a date set at the earliest. While not opposing that an extension of time be granted for the Inca appeal, the respondent has agreed.
Mr Karam was charged alongside Calabrian mafia leader Pasquale Barbaro and many other associates over the seizure of Australia’s – and, at the time, the world’s – largest ecstasy haul when the AFP intercepted 15 million pills hidden inside 3,000 tomato tins.
In a letter to police, Ms Gobbo – who provided a bill of lading to police that detailed the plans but was given to her by Mr Karam – bragged that she had him and his associates arrested and put behind bars. Mr Karam is arguing Ms Gobbo put her interests first.
Material submitted to the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (RCMPI) indicated that Ms Gobbo “extensively provided information and assistance to Victoria Police” in relation to Mr Karam since September 2005 and continued to deliver information on him, the trafficking and the trial right through until his prosecution.
Although being responsible for his arrest in the first place, Ms Gobbo proceeded to go on and represent him at trial and invoice him for her services. A handler recorded that she was told to tell police “if she hears anything while she is with Rob during the trial”.
The commission heard the conduct exposes a conflict of interest that could constitute breaches of her duty to the administration of justice, to the court, to clients and fiduciary duties. It also heard Victoria Police “understood and/or were reckless as to the likelihood that Ms Gobbo was representing Mr Karam”.
Proceedings have been launched in the Victorian Supreme Court to remove Ms Gobbo from the roll of practitioners, which she has indicated her consent to. She will appear before the Supreme Court early next week for a hearing about the removal.
More to come.
