Mob lawyer ruled out as informer by police twice

MOB lawyer Joseph “Pino” Acquaro (right) never worked as a “human source” after twice being assessed to be an informer.

The revelation from Victoria Police comes after jailed mafia figures Francesco Madafferi and Saverio Zirilli won Court of Appeal battles to find out whether the murdered solicitor was snitching on them.

In a statement released yesterday following the court’s decision, Victoria Police revealed “Lawyer A” was considered but never recruited as a registered informer.

“To be clear, Lawyer A was never approved as a human source,” a police statement said. “While he was assessed as a potential informer in 2008 and 2014, on both occasions he was deemed unsuitable for registration.”

The Lawyer X royal commission also assessed Acquaro’s informer history.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton attempted to stop any revelation about Acquaro’s status in a protracted court battle on public interest immunity grounds.

Mr Patton ran the case, mostly heard in closed court, on its policy to never “confirm or deny” the existence of an informer. The Court of Appeal, however, ruled Acquaro’s dealings with police would not be kept secret.

Acquaro, who was shot dead in 2016 outside his Lygon St restaurant Gelobar, earlier held talks with police. In 2008, he was approached about Melbourne’s gangland war but was thought to be unreliable. In 2014, after falling out with Madafferi and brawling with him in his restaurant, Acquaro revealed his former client’s visa issues and alleged involvement in standing over fruit and vegetable traders.

Acquaro also discussed legal issues regarding the infamous “Tomato Tins” drug case just before Madafferi stood trial. He also referred to his need to “get rid of these people”.

Zirilli and Madafferi are serving time over their connections to the $440m ecstasy bust in 2007. The pair, along with other Tomato Tins syndicate members, have launched appeals in relation to the Nicola Gobbo Lawyer X scandal.