Fiji in bid to re-try wife of smuggler

THE wife of drug smuggler John Nikolic is refusing to accept appeal papers from Australian Federal Police, which would see her hauled back to court in Fiji.

But the office of Fiji’s public prosecutor said on Wednesday it would seek to have Yvette Nikolic’s appeal heard in absentia, which meant she could be retried and potentially convicted and sentenced on drug smuggling and firearms charges without facing court.

If that occurred, Ms Nikolic (pictured) could be hunted down in Australia as a fugitive and forced back to prison in Fiji.

The mum of two and aspiring naturopath spent about eight months in Fiji prisons before being acquitted of all charges and allowed to walk free from the Suva High Court in February last year, while her horse trainer husband, John Nikolic, was convicted and handed a 23-year prison term a month later.

Ms Nikolic returned to Australia the day after being released but is now facing an appeal. The Fiji appeal court on Wednesday heard the AFP had tried, but failed, to serve papers on Ms Nikolic. Fiji authorities would now try sending the documents to her by registered mail, it was told.

Meanwhile, John Nikolic is appealing his lengthy sentence, which carries a minimum term of 18 years. Nikolic was yesterday protected by Suva prison guards as he walked in and out of court.

The special treatment was a far cry from that seen during his long-running court case, when he was paraded in front of media daily.