THE MOKBEL MYSTERY

THE greatest mystery surrounding drug baron Tony Mokbel's
disappearance is why our laws allowed him out on bail.

Even more difficult to understand is how the laws allowed his bail to
be continued while he was on trial and days before he was convicted.

This has provoked widespread community anger.

On Tuesday the millionaire criminal was convicted of smuggling cocaine
into Australia from Mexico.

But thanks to the indulgence of the judicial system, he was not in
court. Nor is he likely to be there today when Justice Bill Gillard
sentences him.

The police don't believe he has been murdered -- a view that will
disappoint those who believe he would be no loss to the community.

Instead, police think he has run away. It's believed he is being
investigated for orchestrating at least two gangland murders.

The jurors at his trial did not hear details of Mokbel's long criminal
history dating back to 1983, including that he once tried to bribe a
judge in a drug case.

Nor was the jury told that Mokbel was also facing a charge of inciting
another to import drugs -- an offence he allegedly committed last year
while already on two sets of bail for drugs charges.

Despite (prophetic) fears that he would flee, Mokbel was granted bail
on the cocaine charge in 2002 when the police corruption investigation
threatened to delay his trial.

Mokbel is an evil, remorseless criminal. He has made a fool of the
justice system.