Vic: Police drop threat to kill charge against alleged drug king
MELBOURNE, Aug 29 AAP - Police today dropped a charge of making a threat to kill againstthe alleged boss of a $2 billion drug syndicate.
Antonios "Tony" Mokbel, 37, of Pascoe Vale South, had argued with a female prison officeron October 14, 2001, during the visiting period at Melbourne Assessment Prison shortlybefore midday, police had alleged.
After the argument, Mokbel walked into the officer's station to be strip searched wherehe said "I'll make one phone call and I'll have her knocked tonight".
He allegedly made the threat three times in a loud and clear voice before he said: "She is dead"
Mokbel admitted the offence two weeks later at a governor's hearing at the prison andwas fined $75.
Nevertheless he was formally charged with making a threat to kill in March this year.
At an earlier hearing, his lawyer, Nicola Gobbo, told the Melbourne Magistrates Courtthere had been an abuse of process and her client was now facing double jeopardy.
Police today withdrew the charge during a brief hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
Mokbel, a millionaire businessman who heads a fashion and real estate empire, was arrestedin August 2001 over a 550 kilogram haul of ephedrine hidden in a shipping container.
He also faces an additional federal charge over allegations he imported three kilogramsof cocaine.
AAP nl/szp/clr/ph/bwl
KEYWORD: MOKBEL
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