Lawyer X bond with Mokbel was ‘outside the normal lawyer-client relationship'

Gangland barrister turned police informant Nicola Gobbo had an association with drug king pin Tony Mokbel that went beyond the “normal lawyer-client relationship”, according to a senior police officer.

In 1995, Ms Gobbo’s residence was raided by drug police. One of the officers who executed that warrant today took the stand at the Lawyer X Commission.

Inspector Martin Allison was investigating Mokbel as part of a drug squad investigation in the early 2000s called Operation Kayak.

“Ms Gobbo seemed to have a relationship that was outside the normal lawyer-client relationship,” Inspector Allison said.

“I never observed it, but I received information (that) the relationship extended beyond business hours and they would regularly meet at various places in Melbourne, mostly in the early hours of the morning, late evening.”

Corrupt detective Wayne Strawhorn also worked for the drug squad but was later jailed for selling drugs to underworld criminal Mark Moran.

In the year 2000, Strawhorn was involved in Operation Kayak which focused on high level drug trafficking in Victoria targeting underworld figures Lewis Moran, Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel.

A diary entry penned by Strawhorn in December of that year shows that he met with lawyer Nicola Gobbo, who later became Mokbel’s solicitor.

But Inspector Allison told the commission today he had no recollection of what was discussed with Ms Gobbo, claiming she “never” provided him with any information.