THE mother of jailed drug boss Tony Mokbel has died on Mother?s Day with the man known as "Fat Tony" expected to apply to go to her funeral.
Lora Mokbel died on Mother’s Day, and the man known as "Fat Tony" was expected to apply to go to her funeral.
Ms Mokbel, 83, whose four sons have all been to prison, spoke to the Herald Sun before her most infamous child, Tony, was sentenced to a minimum 22 years jail last year.
Although Mokbel is free to apply to attend the funeral along with his other jailed brother, Milad, security issues could prevent them from attending.
If Mokbel applies to farewell his mother, jail bosses will consider whether freeing him for the day would be a danger to himself or others.
A spokesman from Corrections Victoria said any application would be reviewed.
"Prisoners can apply for permission from Corrections Victoria to attend a funeral,” the spokesman said.
"Each application is judged on its merits and is subject to a detailed security and risk assessment. Community safety is paramount when considering these applications.”
Tony Mokbel leaves the Supreme Court after being sentenced. Picture: Jon Hargest
Corrections Victoria do not discuss individual prisoner movements for security reasons.
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Mrs Mokbel, who Fairfax is reporting died of natural causes on Mother’s Day, defended her son to the end, telling the Herald Sun God rather than a judge held her son’s fate.
It was clear Mrs Mokbel, whose husband died when Tony was a teenager, had been broken-hearted by the life-choices of her sons.
Inside the spacious Brunswick home adorned with family photos – one of Tony’s gleaming red Ferrari – was large family dining table the family once sat around.
It did not look as if it had been used in some time.
Police escort Tony Mokbel after he appeared at Greece's supreme court in Athens in 2009. Picture: AFP Photo/STR.
Also notable were the pictures of Jesus Christ.
Mrs Mokbel, who was welcoming, struggled to speak English and refused to believe her son was notorious drug dealer, crying at the concept he would be separated from his children.
“No, no, no – I never saw any of that,” she said.
“I never saw it and I don’t believe it’s true.”
“I promise, I promise tony is a very good boy. It’s up to God now.”
But an angry streak flared when talking about Mokbel’s former de facto partner, Danielle McGuire, who had restricted access to their child, Renate.
“Of course (I'm upset), I'm his mum,” she said.
Tony Mokbel's mum Lora pictured at home. Picture: HWT library
“Hopefully everything will be good. Only Jesus understands.”
Tony’s multi-million-dollar drug empire funded a vast property portfolio and lavish lifestyle, which ended in Greece in 2007 after a global manhunt.
A member of Mokbel's gang “The Company”, who helped him get a false passport to flee Australia, turned on the drug lord after a $1 million bounty was offered for information on the fugitive.
A long-time crime partner of “Fat” Tony, who organised for him to sail out of Australia and become the nation’s most wanted fugitive, Byron Pantazis, died within hours of Mrs Mokbel in the secure unit of St Vincent’s hospital of cancer.
Pantazis was appealing to the High Court over his eight year jail term.
Other crime families have had mixed fortunes applying to go to family funerals.
Lewis Moran failed in a bid for compassionate leave from jail to attend his son Jason’s funeral after he was shot dead in 2003.
Jason Moran, several years earlier, had been allowed to attend his half-brother Mark’s funeral after he was gunned down outside his house in Aberfeldie in 2000.
Serial killer Paul Haigh was heavily guarded at a funeral home in Richmond to attend his father’s funeral two years ago.
with Mark Buttler
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