Court

Australian national John Nikolic to be sentenced this afternoon

March 8, 2019 7:51 am

Australian national John Nikolic

Australian national John Nikolic who was found guilty of drug-related charges two weeks ago will be sentenced by the Suva High court this afternoon.

The matter was called before Judge Justice Daniel Goundar for sentence hearing today.

The prosecution submitted a sentence of twenty years as a starting point to send out a clear message of deterrence.

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Prosecution lawyer Lee Burney says as the captain of his yacht, Nikolic stood to gain a lot from the illegal activity.

Nikolic was arrested after authorities seized 13 bricks of cocaine weighing 15 kilograms as well as ecstasy tablets with an estimated value of $30 million from his yacht Shenanigans’ in Nadi last year.

He is charged with two counts each of importing an illicit drug with two alternative counts of possessing an illicit drug.

He is charged with a count each of possessing arms and ammunition without holding an arms license.

Burney also said that there was not an ounce of remorse from the accused.

The prosecution lawyer says that Fiji was being used as a transit for illegal activity.

Burney said that Nikolic is a drug smuggler and should face severe punishment.

Meanwhile, Nikolic’s lawyer Wasu Pillay asked for a non-parole period of up to nine years for his client.

He also says that his client elected a full trial and this should not be used adversely against him.

Nikolic will be sentenced in the afternoon today.