Overseas holiday for Mokbel’s suspended lawyer as she vows to fight criminal charge

A high-profile lawyer charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice will be allowed to travel overseas on a family holiday after her bail conditions were eased.

Sarah Tricarico, 38, and co-accused Youssef Raffoul, 33, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, five days after being charged as part of an international law enforcement sting.

Tricarico’s barrister, Dermot Dann, KC, told the court his client intended to fight the charge and also her suspension of her practising certificate by the Legal Services Board, which bans her from working as a lawyer in Australia.

Outside court, supporters of Tricarico, including a practising barrister, hurled abuse at the media and one woman pushed and threatened a photographer.

Prosecutor Rose George asked the court for two extra weeks to prepare the brief of evidence against the accused pair while the Australian Federal Police mapped mobile phone devices, which both defence teams opposed.

Dann said his client had been left “in the dark” without any indication of what material the prosecution would seek to rely on, including a summary of the allegations against her.

“My client is a practising solicitor who is currently suspended. She intends to address that matter with the Legal Services Board as quickly as possible,” Dann said.

“We seek to have this matter progress as quickly as possible. She maintains her innocence.”