Drug importation charge against Yvette Nikolic dropped
A SERIOUS drug offence against Yvette Nikolic — wife of former Gold Coast horse trainer John Nikolic — has been sensationally dropped.
Crime & Justice
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A SERIOUS drug offence against Yvette Nikolic — wife of former Gold Coast horse trainer John Nikolic — has been sensationally dropped.
Mrs Nikolic was jointly charged with her husband with importation and possession of cocaine charges arising from a Fijian customs investigation on June 22, which located contraband alleged to be cocaine on their luxury catamaran. Her charge of importation has been dropped. That charge remains in the case against her husband.
The Nikolic family, including their children, had been on a round-the-world sailing trip that included parts of South America before their boat was intercepted.
If convicted of the importation and possession offences Mrs Nikolic could have spent up to 10 years in a Fijian jail.
John Nikolic is still facing importation and possession of cocaine offences. Their matter is listed for further mention in the Fijian High Court in Lautoka this Tuesday.
Nikolic is the brother of group One winning jockey Danny Nikolic. He was banned from horse racing in 2015 after doping a racehorse.
The Nikolics’ Australian lawyer, Jason Murakami, said the decision by the prosecution to drop the charges against Mrs Nikolic was “highly appropriate given the status of the evidence and … obviously welcomed by the Nikolics and their family”.
“Given recent developments we are hopeful and confident the Nikolics’ children will see their mother by Christmas,’’ he said.
“However, our immediate concern are the conditions these two Australian citizens are experiencing while on remand. We are liaising with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to assist as they are facing very concerning conditions.”
John Nikolic was rushed to hospital after drinking an unknown liquid while police raided his boat. He has made a full recovery.
He was charged with drug importation, unlawful possession of illicit drugs and failure to declare firearms when he regained consciousness. Police allegedly found 12.9kg of cocaine and 34.4g of methamphetamine and two handguns on the boat.
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