Drug lord Tony Mokbel is suing the government of Dan Andrews over a prison attack
Drug lord Tony Mokbel is suing the Victorian government over a stabbing in a prison that nearly killed him.
Teira Bennett and Eldea Teuira, both 22, were sentenced in 2020 to at least seven years each behind bars for stabbing the then 53-year-old on the training grounds of Victoria’s Barwon Prison in February 2019.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that lawyers representing Mokbel have filed a writ with the Victoria High Court seeking damages against the state of Victoria.
Court documents show that Mokbel believes the government imposed a duty of care on him while he was behind bars in Barwon Prison.
Tony Mokbel was nearly killed in a prison attack. The photo shows him being treated by paramedics after being stabbed
Mokbel was unable to move from the moment he was attacked and failed to defend himself when two prisoners attacked him
Eldea Teuira and Teira Bennett in a court sketch during their trial. The men both laughed through their sentences in 2020
“At all relevant times, the Defendant had an obligation to prisoners held at Barwon Prison to prevent foreseeable injury from the conduct of other prisoners,” it read.
“While the plaintiff was in custody, he was under the care and responsibility of the defendant at all relevant times.”
Mokbel was beaten king and stabbed seven times by the men with cutlery and sharpened wires and kicked in the head, knocking his teeth out.
The attack was so violent that the court refused to release footage of it to the media.
The aging mobster was unable to move from the moment he was attacked and did not defend himself when the pair attacked him.
As the attack drew the attention of other inmates and prison guards, the men could be heard yelling, “You’re not an enforcer, this is what you get for talking to the assholes, asshole.”
Mokbel was attacked after a newspaper article on the front page of the Herald Sun claimed that Mokbel was still pulling the strings behind bars.
On the same day the report was released, Mokbel was approached by prison officers asking if he had any concerns about what it contained.
The report details how Mokbel allegedly disrupted a racketeering racket run at the prison by Pacific Islanders, who were targeting a teen who had been incarcerated for assault.
In sentencing his attackers, respected County Court of Victoria judge Elizabeth Gaynor said she accepted the brutal attack was a direct result of the newspaper article and the men’s attempt to restore honor to their prison gang ‘GFAM’ .
Eldea Teuira (pictured) believed Tony Mokbel got what he deserved in the attack that left him fighting for life
A summary of the incident revealed that Mokbel was hit by the King and stabbed seven times by Teuira when Bennett (pictured) kicked him in the head
In documents filed with the Supreme Court, Mokbel’s lawyers argue that the Andrews government had a duty to exercise reasonable care for Mokbel’s physical and psychological safety.
“The defendant has breached duty to the plaintiff. As a result of the breach of duty by the defendant, the plaintiff suffered and continues to suffer injury, loss and damage,” the documents said.
Mokbel claims financial damages, including aggravating and exemplary damages, interest and costs.
Legal action following the prison attack has been on the line since 2019.
At the time, Maurice Blackburn Attorney General Dimi Ioannou told the Herald Sun that lawyers would have to prove that prison authorities were aware of a potential threat to his safety.
“They must demonstrate that they were aware of a potential threat to his safety and then demonstrate that they breached their duty of care by not protecting him from the threat.
“You then have to show that there was permanent injury from the incident, and there was.”
Mokbel was bleeding from his mouth and chest and was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital and was deemed to be in a serious but stable condition.
A homemade weapon used to stab Tony Mokbel in Barwon Prison last year. His attackers both laughed as they heard the details of their savage attack
Another of the homemade guns used to stab Tony Mokbel in prison
Just an hour before the frenzied prison attack, Mokbel had attended Teuira’s 21st birthday celebrations where the pair “hugged” and were seen chatting.
Bleeding from his mouth and chest, Mokbel was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
A second victim, aged 31, was also injured when he tried to help Mokbel, but returned to prison after a night in hospital.
Mokbel was injured so badly that he underwent emergency surgery and was put into a coma.
His young attackers laughed during their sentencing in the County Court of Victoria.
Their sentences were lumped on top of the prison they were already serving at the time, meaning Bennett would serve at least eight years and Teuira eight and a half.
“That’s quite a blow,” Bennett grinned.
Both men seemed confused upon hearing the phrase and continued to laugh and chat to each other while still on the public video link.
“Ah, it is what it is,” Teuira said to Bennett.
When Teuira’s lawyer warned the men that they were still being sent out, Teuira sent a message to the public.
‘I like prison. I love prison,” he cried as Bennett cackled with laughter.