A police officer who raided the home of 'Lawyer X' Nicola Gobbo looking for drugs, before her time as a registered informer, says the "loud" and "opinionated" law student treated the legal processes "like a game". Former Victoria Police sergeant Michael Holding believes Ms Gobbo should have been charged with drug trafficking like her then-boyfriend Brian Wilson after police found $82,000 worth of amphetamines in their Carlton home in 1993. "I believe Wilson gave a 'no-comment' record of interview so I think we thought she might able to assist us," Mr Holding told the royal commission into the use of informers on Friday. "She thought it was a bit of a game." Within two years of the raid, Ms Gobbo phoned police and nominated her boyfriend as a suspect for gun trafficking after a special squad was set up to probe aggravated burglaries, the commission was also told. Former Detective Sergeant John Gibson said he wasn't sure if Ms Gobbo had been registered as an informant at the time. However, Inspector Trevor Ashton admitted that as early as 1994, he recognised Ms Gobbo would be a "good asset" to police. Paperwork signed by Insp Ashton, shown to the commission, described Ms Gobbo as a law student "living with a known criminal", who "is quite reliable and seeking a career as a solicitor", and "genuinely wants to assist police". He said during the 1993 raid, Ms Gobbo led police to bags of drugs in air vents at the home she shared with Wilson while he was handcuffed in the lounge. Insp Ashton added he was absolutely not aware of any intimate relationships between Ms Gobbo and members of police. Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson on Friday said he understood the royal commission had frustrations that the force had not handed over a list of criminals still behind bars because of information supplied to investigators by Ms Gobbo. The royal commission is investigating criminal convictions that could have been tainted by the information supplied by Ms Gobbo when she was feeding details to police while also working as a barrister. She represented up to 600 clients while she was a registered police informer between 1995 and 2010, including underworld boss Carl Williams and drug lord Tony Mokbel. Investigations are underway to determine how many convictions could have been tainted, and a working group is giving priority to those people still in jail. "We're absolutely getting on with that work and the frustrations have been well and truly conveyed," Mr Paterson said. A lawyer for Ms Gobbo's former police handlers pointed out flaws highlighted in a review that led to the closure of the Source Development Unit. Mr Paterson agreed there had been criticism of files being "dispersed all over the place". A stand-alone computer was encrypted with content from Ms Gobbo, the senior officer added, and "handlers" were rotated to prevent corruption arising from one handler dealing too much with a source. The hearing is due to continue Monday, with former Victoria Police assistant commissioner Jeff Pope scheduled to give evidence. The investigation that led to the closure of the unit in 2013 was headed by Mr Pope, who registered Ms Gobbo and was her handler in 1999. Australian Associated Press
A former Vic cop says "Lawyer X" Nicola Gobbo treated a 1993 drug raid as a bit of a game.
A police officer who raided the home of 'Lawyer X' Nicola Gobbo looking for drugs, before her time as a registered informer, says the "loud" and "opinionated" law student treated the legal processes "like a game".
Former Victoria Police sergeant Michael Holding believes Ms Gobbo should have been charged with drug trafficking like her then-boyfriend Brian Wilson after police found $82,000 worth of amphetamines in their Carlton home in 1993.
"I believe Wilson gave a 'no-comment' record of interview so I think we thought she might able to assist us," Mr Holding told the royal commission into the use of informers on Friday.
"She thought it was a bit of a game."
Within two years of the raid, Ms Gobbo phoned police and nominated her boyfriend as a suspect for gun trafficking after a special squad was set up to probe aggravated burglaries, the commission was also told.
Former Detective Sergeant John Gibson said he wasn't sure if Ms Gobbo had been registered as an informant at the time.
However, Inspector Trevor Ashton admitted that as early as 1994, he recognised Ms Gobbo would be a "good asset" to police.
Paperwork signed by Insp Ashton, shown to the commission, described Ms Gobbo as a law student "living with a known criminal", who "is quite reliable and seeking a career as a solicitor", and "genuinely wants to assist police".
He said during the 1993 raid, Ms Gobbo led police to bags of drugs in air vents at the home she shared with Wilson while he was handcuffed in the lounge.
Insp Ashton added he was absolutely not aware of any intimate relationships between Ms Gobbo and members of police.
Police Assistant Commissioner Neil Paterson on Friday said he understood the royal commission had frustrations that the force had not handed over a list of criminals still behind bars because of information supplied to investigators by Ms Gobbo.
The royal commission is investigating criminal convictions that could have been tainted by the information supplied by Ms Gobbo when she was feeding details to police while also working as a barrister.
She represented up to 600 clients while she was a registered police informer between 1995 and 2010, including underworld boss Carl Williams and drug lord Tony Mokbel.
Investigations are underway to determine how many convictions could have been tainted, and a working group is giving priority to those people still in jail.
"We're absolutely getting on with that work and the frustrations have been well and truly conveyed," Mr Paterson said.
A lawyer for Ms Gobbo's former police handlers pointed out flaws highlighted in a review that led to the closure of the Source Development Unit.
Mr Paterson agreed there had been criticism of files being "dispersed all over the place".
A stand-alone computer was encrypted with content from Ms Gobbo, the senior officer added, and "handlers" were rotated to prevent corruption arising from one handler dealing too much with a source.
The hearing is due to continue Monday, with former Victoria Police assistant commissioner Jeff Pope scheduled to give evidence.
The investigation that led to the closure of the unit in 2013 was headed by Mr Pope, who registered Ms Gobbo and was her handler in 1999.
