Eddie Obeid arrives at Silverwater jail after being ordered to go to prison

Disgraced former Labor minister and convicted criminal Eddie Obeid has arrived at Silverwater's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre to begin his sentence.

Obeid, his former colleague Ian Macdonald and son Moses Obeid were all handed jail sentences on Thursday over a corrupt mining licence.

READ MORE: Eddie and Moses Obeid, Ian Macdonald all jailed over mine conspiracy

Yesterday he was ordered to go to prison this morning, by Justice Elizabeth Fullerton to begin his seven year sentence.

He has a non-parole period of three years and ten months.

The order came as Obeid, 77, was bailed pending an appeal on his conviction, meaning he did not spend last night behind bars.

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His legal team had argued because of his age and health he could get very sick or even die from COVID-19 if he caught it in the cells at the Surry Hills Police Centre, where prisoners are processed before being taken to jail.

So Justice Fullerton ruled the 77-year-old could bypass that step and go directly to Silverwater Prison.

He will be put into quarantine before joining other inmates.