One of Australia's most notorious crime figures has had his final drug conviction charge withdrawn after a lengthy court battle.
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Tony Mokbel, 60, will walk from Melbourne's Supreme Court on Friday a free man after a lengthy battle to overturn his drug convictions in the aftermath of the Lawyer X scandal.
He won his appeal last year, with judges ordering he face a re-trial over alleged offending in 2005, dubbed the Orbital charge and relating to alleged MDMA trafficking.
Mokbel argued his drug convictions were tainted as he was represented by barrister-turned-informer Nicola Gobbo, known as Lawyer X.
A judicial registrar urged prosecutors to progress their case at a directions hearing in December, and decide whether to order a re-trial for the charge or dismiss it all together.
On Friday, prosecutor David Glynn announced the case against him would be discontinued.
Mokbel is expected to walk out of court to awaiting media shortly.
Australian Associated Press
