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Marrogi was also caught using prison-issued computers and smuggled internet dongles and USBs to communicate secretly on encrypted chat system Wickr and to view pornography.
“On 13 August 2020, during a targeted search of the plaintiff’s cell, the plaintiff was observed in the act of inserting an object into his rectum. He was directed to stop but was non-compliant.” A dongle was later found among his possessions.
“On 14 October 2023, prison staff observed the plaintiff engaging in a sexual act with a visitor during a contact visit. Prison staff terminated the visit and subsequently discovered that the overalls worn by the plaintiff were damaged,” according to an incident detailed in an affidavit.
Brewing homemade liquor in empty sauce bottles and amassing weapons, including a 19cm metal spike, are also among his list of violations.
For many of these transgressions, Marrogi’s punishment was to have his prison canteen account fined between $10 and $192. For more serious offences, he would be sentenced to one to six months’ jail to be served concurrently with what is now a nearly 50-year sentence for drug trafficking and murder.
The records show that Marrogi also applied for permission to mix with other prisoners, including Tony Mokbel in 2024. His request was approved, then denied.
George Marrogi and his sister Meshilin.
“The reason they gave me for the refusal was they told me it would ‘not be a good look’ if the media knew Mr Mokbel and I were mixing in prison because we are both well known. From this I understood that it was fear of criticism from the media which lead to the refusal,” Marrogi wrote in his own affidavit.
In his lawsuit, Marrogi has compared his alleged maltreatment in prison to that of late South African leader Nelson Mandela. He is seeking more freedoms, including a potential return to general population in the prison.
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Marrogi asked Justice Claire Harris to make a declaration that his conditions violate his human rights – a precursor to forcing Corrections Victoria to change his placement in solitary confinement and the use of strip searches and limited access to open air.
Corrections Victoria, in turn, has classified Marrogi as a threat to the good order of the prison system.
“In my opinion, the arrangements suggested by Mr Marrogi would not be feasible or consistent with maintaining the good order or security of the prison. Mr Marrogi has the highest security rating, is classified as a major offender, and has been assessed as a high-level security and/or escape risk. The mainstream yard is uncovered and so does not have sufficient mitigations in place to address the risk of Mr Marrogi escaping,” Dale Slater, general manager of Barwon Prison, wrote in an affidavit in August 2025.
“There would also be an increased risk of the introduction of contraband, either from someone throwing contraband in or another prisoner leaving contraband in the yard for Mr Marrogi to collect.”
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Marrogi’s position is diametrically different.
“There is no place for a prisoner to flee if they somehow ‘escaped’ their cell, as the prisoner would be trapped in another internal part of the prison with no exit,” Marrogi wrote in response.
His affidavit didn’t mention the previous scheme involving the helicopter.
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