William Solomon Nikua: Birrong man sentenced for cocaine supply in Bondi

A southwest Sydney man caught with cocaine in his underwear was warned he would face jail if he returned to court again. See why the magistrate called his excuse ‘a joke’.

William Solomon Nikua appeared at Waverley Court.

A Birrong man busted in Bondi Beach with coke in his underwear was warned by a magistrate he would “be going to jail” if he was involved in a drug supply operation again.

William Solomon Nikua, 31, of Birrong, was sentenced for drug supply at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday.

According to facts tendered to court, about 10.25pm on May 25 plain clothes police were patrolling Bondi Beach – an area known to be popular for dial-a-dealer activity – when they pulled Nikua over in his car.

After telling Nikua they wanted to search him, he admitted he had drugs hidden in his underwear and gave them the small resealable bag filled with cocaine.

Asked how much he was carrying, the western Sydney man replied, “I don’t know exactly.”

Nikua leaving Waverley Court.

Nikua was arrested and taken to Waverley police station where police recorded he was discovered with 10.1g of cocaine.

Nikua’s lawyer told the court his client, a religious man and father to a young son, did not have any previous drug-related matters on his record and asked for a lenient sentence.

“He understand the seriousness of the matter,” Nikua’s lawyer said, adding he had “put shame on the family” through his actions.

However he said his client admitted he had made a profit from dealing and had a drug habit at the time of his arrest.

Court heard Nikua’s letter to the court said he had only supplied drug to his friends – and that he “didn’t know supplying drugs was illegal”.

Waverley Local Court.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge called the claims “absolutely ridiculous.”

“What a joke,” the magistrate said of Nikua’s letter, and told the court she was unconvinced of his genuine remorse for breaking the law.

The magistrate told the western Sydney man if he appeared before her at court again he would face a full-time custodial sentence.

“This is a promise; you would not be going home,” Magistrate Milledge said.

Magistrate Milledge convicted Nikua of drug supply and sentenced him to a 16-month intensive corrections order.