John Nikolic appeals Fiji drug smuggling sentence in high-risk move
Former Melbourne horse trainer John Nikolic is appealing his drug smuggling sentence in a high-risk move that could see him slapped with more time in a Fiji prison.
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Convicted Aussie drug smuggler John Nikolic is appealing against his jail sentence in a move that could land him more rather than less time in a Fiji prison.
Fiji authorities last week confirmed Nikolic, the brother of Melbourne jockey Danny, had lodged an appeal.
Sydney man Joseph Abourizk, who is also serving time on a drugs conviction in Fiji, was slapped with more years upon appeal of his original sentence. Abourizk’s sentence is now 25 years, with a non-parole period of 20 years, up from his original 14 years with a minimum of 12.
As part of the Abourizk judgment, the Fiji Court of Appeal set down drug sentencing guidelines under which people caught with more than 1kg of cocaine can be jailed for life.
The lack of sentencing guidelines for possession and trafficking of hard drugs was an issue in the Nikolic case.
He has been locked up in Lautoka and Suva prisons since the raid on his catamaran Shenanigans at Denarau Marina in June 2018 when a stash of cocaine, methamphetamine, money and guns was found.
His son, Jake Nikolic, has made a new life in Canada and authorities have been unable to catch up with his wife, Yvette, who Fiji authorities let leave the country before appealing against her acquittal.
The Suva High Court in March found John Nikolic, a former Melbourne horse trainer, guilty of cocaine smuggling and weapons offences and sentenced him to 23 years jail — with a non-parole period of 18 years — for sailing cocaine worth $30 million from Colombia on Shenanigans.