John Nikolic’s freedom bid from hardcore, foreign jail as new drug yacht sale details emerge

Locked up in a Fiji prison for cocaine smuggling, ex Melbourne racehorse trainer John Nikolic sets a new freedom plan in motion, as new details emerge on the sale of the drug yacht Shenanigans.

Inside the hardcore Suva prison, where Australian John Nikolic is being held. Picture: Supplied

Former Melbourne horse trainer and convicted drug smuggler John Nikolic is set to launch a fresh bid for freedom after languishing for more than three years in a notorious Fiji prison.

It comes as it’s revealed the sale of his wife Yvette’s yacht Shenanigans - used to conceal large quantities of cocaine - was sold off by the Fiji government prematurely.

The Herald Sun understands John Nikolic is preparing to again appeal his 23-year maximum jail term and possibly also his February 2019 conviction, as he struggles to cope in the hard-core Suva mens’ prison.

John Nikolic is set to appeal his long Fiji prison sentence. Picture: Supplied

Concrete walls topped with coils of barbered wire surround John Nikolic at notorious Suva prison. Picture: Gary Ramage

A previous appeal against his lengthy sentence was rejected by the Fiji courts in October last year but Nikolic has secured a new legal team to again fight for a lesser jail term.

The high-profile racehorse trainer, father of two and brother of well-known jockey Danny Nikolic was found guilty of smuggling $30 million worth of cocaine on the yacht Shenanigans after it was raided at Denarau Marina in June 2018 by Fiji Customs.

John and Yvette claimed to be on the holiday of a lifetime, sailing through the Pacific, at the time.

Thirteen bars of cocaine, drug tablets, guns and $15,000 in US $100 bills were found hidden on board Shenanigans, a catamaran officially owned by John Nikolic’s wife, Yvette.

Ms Nikolic faced the same drug smuggling charges as her husband but claimed to know nothing about the drugs, guns and money stashed on board, and was fully acquitted in February 2019.

She returned to Australia immediately after her Supreme Court trial.

Shenanigans was sold by tender in September 2019 by the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service (FRCS) after Ms Nikolic lost a separate civil case in March of that year to keep the luxury catamaran and cash which was found on board.

The poster advertising Shenanigans for sale.

However, she appealed the verdict in May 2019; requesting a stay on Judge David Alfred’s green light for Shenanigans to be sold, while her appeal was considered.

The result of that appeal - rejecting her plea - was only handed down this month, nearly three years after the yacht was sold off by the government.

Twelve Australians put in tenders to buy Shenanigans, making up nearly half of the 28 bidders for the yacht.

It is not known what the boat eventually sold for.

While Yvette Nikolic was acquitted of drug smuggling charges, her husband John was sentenced to 23 years prison. Picture: Gary Ramage

“The applicant’s notice of motion seeking a stay of Alfred, J’s judgment of 15 March 2019 is declined,” the appeal court decision’s, delivered on August 4 this year, states.

“The court is unaware of the status of the applicant’s appeal to the Court of Appeal. However, the court is regretfully mindful that the applicant’s notice of motion should have been disposed much earlier.”

Ms Nikolic is currently being pursued by Fiji’s public prosecutor, which is appealing her acquittal, with a view to making her face retrial.

A mention for that appeal was heard yesterday.