Former horse trainer is jailed for 23 years for importing cocaine into Fiji on his luxury yacht 'Shenanigans'
- Former Australian horse trainer John Nikolic has been sentenced to 23 years jail
- Mr Nikolic received sentence for importing cocaine into Fiji on his luxury yacht
- His wife was acquitted of all charges but Mr Nikolic was found guilty last week
- Mr Nikolic was banned from racing for nine months for doping a horse in 2015
Former Australian horse trainer John Nikolic has been sentenced to 23 years in jail for importing cocaine into Fiji on his luxury yacht.
He and wife Yvette were arrested after Fijian authorities discovered more than $20 million worth of drugs, along with two guns, on their vessel - named Shenanigans - as it arrived in Port Denarau in June 2018.
While Ms Nikolic was acquitted on all charges, Mr Nikolic was last week found guilty of drug importation, possession, and failure to declare arms and ammunitions to a customs officer following a trial at the High Court in Suva.
Former Australian horse trainer John Nikolic (pictured) has been sentenced to 23 years in jail for importing cocaine into Fiji on his luxury yacht
Justice Daniel Goundar handed down a sentence of 23 years' imprisonment with no parole for 18 years on Friday, Fiji Village reports.
While prosecutors called for a sentence of at least 20 years as a deterrent, Mr Nikolic's lawyers said he had tested positive for a gene that causes the degenerative Huntington's disease and was at risk of developing it years to come, according to the Herald Sun.
'There is a likelihood my client will contract the disease because two of his uncles [did],' defence lawyer Wasu Pillay said, ABC reported.
The couple had been travelling across the Pacific and stopped at Fiji after visiting Colombia, on their way home to the Gold Coast, drawing the suspicions of customs officers who raided the boat and found 10 blocks of cocaine, the court heard during the trial.
Justice Goundar outlined the facts during sentencing, tracking the route of the yacht.
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'The vessel left Florida on February 2, 2018 and travelled to Colombia, Panama, French Polynesia and Tahiti before arriving in Fiji,' Justice Goundar told the court.
'The final destination was Brisbane, Australia.
'Your wife is the registered owner of the vessel. She was with you on board, with three crew members.'
Mr Nikolic had claimed sole responsibility during the search, pointing officers to more hidden cocaine, before attempting to take his own life in an overdose after asking to use the bathroom, prosecutors said.
Justice Goundar last month ruled Ms Nikolic had no case to answer because the evidence against her was circumstantial.
She has since returned to Australia.
Mr Nikolic was in 2015 banned from racing for nine months for doping a horse.
Mr Nikolic and wife Yvette were arrested after Fijian authorities discovered more than $20 million worth of drugs, along with two guns, on their vessel, Shenanigans, as it arrived in Port Denara in June
While prosecutors called for a sentence of at least 20 years as a deterrent, Mr Nikolic's lawyers said he had tested positive for a gene that causes the degenerative Huntington's disease and was at risk of developing it years to come, according to the Herald Sun
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