Ivanovic, also known as "The Gun", is a close associate of underworld boss Rocco Arico and one of the state's most notorious inmates, Matthew "The General" Johnson, head of jailhouse gang Prisoners of War. A recent image shows Tommy Ivanovic and his partner, who have recently welcomed a baby. Ivanovic was the only witness present in the high-security cell when Johnson bludgeoned Carl Williams to death. Rocco Arico was the first person Ivanovic called from his cell after Williams was bashed to death inside Barwon Prison by Johnson in 2010. Outside the St Kilda motel after Richard Mladenich's murder

Williams, Johnson and Ivanovic had been housed together inside the same maximum security prison wing when news leaked that Williams had become a police informer. The arrest comes months after the Purana Taskforce detectives renewed calls for information into the killing that took place in the early years of the gangland war. Tommy Ivanovic is arrested in Brunswick West on Wednesday. Credit:Victoria Police In July, police released photos of a bloody crime scene and announced a $1 million reward to solve the case. Three people witnessed Mladenich's killing, but did not identify the shooter, who was reported to be wearing a hoodie and dark sunglasses.

Police were told Mladenich owed $120,000 to Carl Williams, with the pair seen arguing inside a Crown casino nightclub two weeks before the murder. Criminal sources said upon Ivanovic's release from prison, he received money and a car from underworld associates keen to keep him on side and out of trouble. Tommy Ivanovic was the only witness when Matthew Johnson beat drug kingpin Carl Williams (pictured) to death with the seat stem an exercise bike. Credit:John Woudstra He'd recently provided "muscle" for a prominent boxing promoter, who capitalised on Ivanovic's fearsome reputation and criminal connections. Ivanovic has recently become a father, with his new partner posting images of their baby on social media.

Last week, the couple visited St Kilda Beach with their child – not far from the hotel where Richard Mladenich was slain 19 years ago. Ivanovic’s sister Meri Ivanovic on Wednesday accused Victoria Police of threatening “trumped up charges” against her brother to force him to reveal what he knows about the Mladenich murder. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video She said Ivanovic had been a “model parolee” since his release from jail and was helping to renovate their mother’s West Brunswick house when trucks of heavily armed police arrived disguised as tradesmen. Speaking as her brother’s baby girl lay on a blanket nearby, Ms Ivanovic said her brother was a reformed family man who’d never do anything to jeopardise his parole.

She said her brother lived only a few street away with his partner and newborn baby and would regularly visit the family home to help renovate the property. “It’s not surprising that now he’s got a baby, his mum’s in hospital, he’s renovating her house, they must think they’ve got the trifecta and he might have reason to talk. Richard Mladenich “But he won’t, it’s not in his character. “He’s a family man. He’s done his time.”

“It is probably another diversion tactic they are trying to use to take attention away from the corruption that is being gradually revealed through this Lawyer X case.” Loading She pointed out that charges laid against Ivanovic in 2012 relating to another alleged murder plot were subsequently withdrawn. “They have been pressuring Tommy all along. They have given him a long sentence, they have tried to make him break, they have tried every tactic in their books. They have asked the family to get him to talk. “He has told them no. He is refusing to be corrupt and engage in their tactics.”

“Tommy has been released over 18 months ago ... According to his parole officers he hasn’t put a foot wrong. He has been working full time. “It was very unnecessary for them to come pretending to be tradies, dressed up with masks and rifles. We are not in Syria. This is not a military zone.” Underworld sources have previously said Williams used Mladenich as a heavy inside prison and wanted him to reprise the role outside. One story had it that Mladenich rejected the offer and joined the Morans – Williams’ major enemies. Mladenich’s family spoke about his death when police launched their appeal. “I have not had a decent day for 19 years thinking about what could have happened to my brother,” Richard's brother Marc said.

Loading “He left a heartbroken mother, a brother, and a family. He didn’t deserve what he got. He was a good family member … he was a thug to a certain degree.” Police revealed Mladenich was shot with a 0.25 calibre self-loading pistol – small enough to fit into the palm of a hand. Detective Acting Sergeant Jesse Maxwell earlier this year said the Esquire Motel was well-known for drugs and prostitution, but the motive for the killing remained unknown. “There is still someone in our community, who after 19 years, who committed an extremely violent and life-ending act and that person needs to be held to account,” he said.