Aussie lawyer informant jeopardises convictions

SYDNEY: Hundreds of criminal convictions – including those meted out to Australia’s most notorious gangland figures – hang in the balance after their defence lawyer was revealed as a police informant.

Court documents disclosed that a high-profile Melbourne barrister had for years been giving information to Victoria Police, while representing clients like crime boss Tony Mokbel and six of his associates.

While courts only mentioned Mokbel and his associates, more than 600 cases could be tainted, said the Melbourne’s Herald Sun.

The revelation came after court injunctions were lifted yesterday, exposing one of the biggest legal scandals to hit the country in years and prompting authorities to immediately announce a public inquiry.

The public has a “right to know that every part of the justice system acts fairly and lawfully at all times,” said Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday,

In a secret two-year court battle, police tried to stop state prosecutors from informing the seven people about their barrister’s role.

They were knocked back by Australia’s highest court last month.

The High Court blasted the police and said they were “involved in sanctioning atrocious breaches of the sworn duty of every officer”.

“The prosecution of each convicted person was corrupted,” the High Court judgment added. — AFP