Wife of drug smuggler John Nikolic asks for Fiji legal aid after appeal papers served

The wife of convicted drug smuggler John Nikolic has applied for legal aid as attempts to haul her back to court in Fiji ramp up.

Appeal papers have been served on Yvette Nikolic as Fijian authorities move to try her again over a high-level drug smuggling bust.

Mrs Nikolic — whose horse trainer husband John is serving a long jail term over the case — has already applied for Fijian legal aid to help her fight to stay free as the prospect of a new trial edges closer.

It is a high-stakes battle because, if found guilty in absentia, the mother-of-two could be arrested in Australia and sent back to prison in the South Pacific holiday playground.

The matter will go before court next month.

John and Yvette Nikolic were aboard their yacht, Shenanigans, when it was intercepted at Denarau Marina in June, 2018.

Yvette and John Nikolic at court in Suva, Fiji, before Yvette was allowed to walk free and John was jailed. Picture: News Corp Australia

John and Yvette Nikolic on board The Shenanigans.

Yvette Nikolic in prison in Fiji. Picture: Mark Stewart

Thirteen bars of cocaine valued at up to $30 million, drug tablets, guns and $15,000 in US currency were seized by Fijian customs officials.

Mrs Nikolic was to spend eight months in prison on remand before being acquitted in the Suva High Court.

John Nikolic was sentenced in 2019 and given a 23-year maximum jail term.

Fiji’s Office of the Department of Public Prosecutions confirmed papers had been served on Yvette Nikolic and that she has applied for legal aid.

The DPP is appealing on the basis that a trial judge erred in law by ruling she had no case to answer.

Mrs Nikolic returned to Australia a day later but authorities have not turned their mind to getting her back to Fiji.

“The issue of extradition will be considered at a later date,” a DPP statement said.

John Nikolic is running an appeal of his own, opposing his lengthy jail term which bears an 18-year minimum.

This does carry risks.

Sydney man Joseph Abourizk recently had his cocaine possession jail term increased from 14 to 25 years on appeal.

It is believed Nikolic is doing his time as comfortably as could be expected.

Sources say he is treated well by his captors and has enough money to get by inside, appearing to have put on weight and to be in good spirits.

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