Boat drug trial: Court adjourns matter over medical issue
The trial of Australians John Nikolic and Yvette Nikolic will resume next Monday, February 11, at 2.15pm. An adjournment was granted for medical leave by the High Court in Suva after a defence lawyer, Wasu Pillay, contracted conjunctivitis.
The couple appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar yesterday for the sixth day of their trial.
The prosecution was represented by Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions lawyers Yogesh Prasad and Shelyn Kiran and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Lee Burney.
The two defence lawyers are from Lautokabased Gordon and Company law firm. Ronald Gordon represented Yvette Nikolic, while successful and well-known horse trainer John Nikolic is represented by Mr Pillay.
The charges:
The couple is facing two counts each for importing illicit drugs, possessing illicit drugs and one count of possessing arms and ammunition without holding an arms licence.
For importing an illicit drug, it is alleged that the couple, without lawful authority, imported illicit drugs namely cocaine weighing 12.9 kilograms and methamphetamine tablets weighing 34.4 grams.
For possessing an illicit drug, it is alleged that the couple, without lawful authority, had in their possession illicit drugs namely cocaine weighing 12.9 kilograms and methamphetamine tablets weighing 34.4 grams. The estimated value of the illicit drugs is between $20 million and $30 million.
For the count of possessing arms and ammunition without holding an arms licence, it is alleged that the couple had in their possession arms and ammunition namely two pistols and 112 rounds of ammunition without holding an arms licence.
The incident allegedly took place in June 2018, at Port Denarau Marina, Nadi.
In court yesterday, Mr Gordon told the court that his associate, Mr Pillay is on medical leave because he was suffering from conjunctivitis and requested for adjournment for two days.
Mr Burney told the court Mr Pillay should see the witnesses and Mr Nikolic are entitled to have his counsel in court if they are challenging the chain of evidence.