Drug lord Tony Mokbel sues Dan Andrews government over prison attack
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Drug lord Tony Mokbel is suing the Victorian government for a prison stabbing that nearly cost him his life.
Teira Bennett and Eldea Teuira, both 22, were sentenced in 2020 to spend at least seven years each behind bars for stabbing the then 53-year-old in the exercise yard at Barwon Prison in Victoria in February 2019.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal that lawyers acting for Mokbel have filed a summons with the Supreme Court of Victoria seeking damages against the State of Victoria.
Court documents say Mokbel believes the government imposed a duty of care on him while he was locked behind bars in Barwon Prison.
Tony Mokbel nearly died in a prison attack. Photo shows him being treated by paramedics after being stabbed
Mokbel could not move from the moment he was attacked and failed to defend himself as two inmates assaulted him
Eldea Teuira and Teira Bennett in a court sketch during their court appearance. The men both laughed throughout their 2020 sentence
“At all relevant times, the defendant owed a duty to the prisoners held at Barwon Jail to prevent foreseeable injury resulting from the conduct of other prisoners,” it said.
“At all material times while the plaintiff was in custody, he was in the custody and control of the defendant.”
Mokbel was struck by the king and stabbed seven times by the men with sharp cutlery and wires and kicked in the head, knocking out his teeth.
The attack was so violent that the court refused to release the footage to the media.
The aging mobster was unable to move from the moment he was attacked and failed to defend himself when the pair assaulted him.
As the assault drew the attention of other inmates and prison guards, the men could be heard shouting, “You’re not an enforcer, that’s what you get for talking to the screws, damn dog .”
Mokbel came under attack after a front-page story in the Herald Sun newspaper claimed Mokbel was still pulling the strings behind bars.
On the same day the report was released, Mokbel was approached by prison officers who asked if he had any concerns about what he was saying.
The report detailed how Mokbel allegedly disrupted an extortion racket run through the prison by Pacific Islanders, who targeted a locked-up teenager for assault.
Sentencing her attackers, respected Victoria County Court Judge Elizabeth Gaynor said she accepted the brutal attack was a direct result of the newspaper story and the men’s attempt to restore honor of their prison gang “GFAM”.
Eldea Teuira (pictured) thought Tony Mokbel got what he deserved in the attack that left him fighting for his life
A summary of the incident revealed that Mokbel was punched by the king and stabbed seven times by Teuira as Bennett (pictured) kicked him in the head
In documents filed with the Supreme Court, Mokbel’s lawyers say the Andrews government had a duty to exercise due diligence for Mokbel’s physical and psychological safety.
“Defendant has breached its duty to Plaintiff. As a result of Defendant’s breaches of duty, Plaintiff suffered and continues to suffer injuries, losses and damages,” the documents state.
Mokbel seeks damages, including aggravated and exemplary damages, interest and costs.
A legal action stemming from the attack on the prison had been ongoing since 2019.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers director Dimi Ioannou told the sun herald while the lawyers would have to prove that the prison authorities had knowledge of a potential threat to his safety.
“They must show they were aware of a potential threat to his safety and then show that they failed in their duty of care by failing to protect him from the threat.
“You then have to show that there was a permanent injury as a result of the incident, which there was.”
Bleeding from the mouth and chest, Mokbel was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital and was considered to be in serious but stable condition.
A homemade weapon used to stab Tony Mokbel inside Barwon Prison last year. His attackers both laughed upon hearing the details of their savage attack
Another of the homemade weapons 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 “kissed” and were seen chatting.
Bleeding from the mouth and chest, Mokbel was airlifted to Royal Melbourne Hospital in serious but stable condition.
A second victim, 31, was also injured while trying to help Mokbel, but returned to jail after spending a night in hospital.
Mokbel was so badly injured that he underwent emergency surgery and was placed in a coma.
His young attackers laughed during their sentence in Victoria County Court.
Their sentences were lumped together 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 years.
“That’s a good shot,” Bennett chuckled.
The pair seemed confused upon hearing the phrase and continued to laugh and chat with each other while staying on the public video link.
“Well, it is what it is,” Teuira told Bennett.
When Teuira’s attorney warned the men they were still on the air, Teuira sent a message to the public.
“I love prison. I love prison,’ he shouted as Bennett laughed out loud.