Black file found on Nikolic yacht, revealing alleged wire transfer of nearly $40,000 to someone
A black file found on the yacht Shenanigans allegedly reveals accused Aussie drug smuggler John Nikolic wired nearly $40,000 to someone or something.
National
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A black file found on the yacht Shenanigans allegedly reveals accused Aussie drug smuggler John Nikolic wired nearly $40,000 to someone, the Suva High Court heard yesterday.
The details of three money transfers totalling about $38,400 were in the black file along with other important documents including those related to the sale of the yacht, the court was told.
No evidence was given relating to where or when the money was allegedly transferred by Mr Nikolic.
During cross-examination of a Fiji border police investigator, Ronald Gordon, for John Nikolic’s wife, Yvette, asked if the money had anything to do with his client “or the yacht”, and was told it did not.
Detective acting corporal Aten Prasad had earlier identified two undeclared guns and ammunition found hidden on Shenanigans in front of the court.
Det. Prasad said he was handed the fully-loaded weapons and ammunition by a customs officer during the June 22 raid on Shenanigans at Denarau Marina, and took the guns — along with other seized items — to Namaka police station, where they were locked away securely by another officer.
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Corporal Prasad said when he arrived on the yacht he saw “a European man lying motionless and two European ladies crying”.
“Customs officer Vasiti Toga told me 13 bars (of cocaine) were found and the captain of the yacht John Nikolic (had) attempted to commit suicide,” he said.
The court has previously heard Yvette Nikolic was crying after her husband collapsed and French crew member Lucie Orard comforted her.
The court has also been told John Nikolic fell unconscious, with his eyes wide open and making choking sounds, following a long visit to a toilet on the yacht.
Ten bars of cocaine were found by a customs officer in a blue bag in the yacht’s lazarette locker, after which another three bars were discovered on the other side of the hatch.
Two guns, ammunition, US$15,000 in $100 bills and ecstasy tablets were later found hidden in the wall of the boat’s saloon area.
Both John and Yvette Nikolic have pleaded not guilty to charges of drug importation, drug possession and weapons offences but multiple witnesses have told the court John Nikolic took sole responsibility for the drugs when they were initially found on the boat, and that he pointed out the location of one cocaine stash.
The 13 bars of plastic-wrapped cocaine have previously been presented to the court, and on one occasion opened in front of lawyers.
The trial in front of Justice Daniel Goundar continues.
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