Boxes carrying cocaine were yesterday once again brought to the Suva High Court where the drug bust case against Australian couple John Geoffrey Nikolic and Yvette Dianne Nikolic went on for Day Three.

Members of media and others were asked to vacate the courtroom as the cocaine was brought to be examined in the court. This was done to allow defence to re-examine the packages.

The couple appeared before Suva High Court Judge Justice Daniel Goundar yesterday for their third day of trial.

The state was represented by Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions lawyer Shelyn Kiran, Deputy DPP Lee Burney and lawyer Yogesh Prasad.

The two accused was represented by Ronald Gordon and Wasu Pillay from Lautoka- based law firm Gordon and Company.

The charges:

The couple are 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 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, they had in their possession illicit drugs namely cocaine weighing 12.9 kilograms and methamphetamine tablets weighing 34.4 grams. The estimated values of the illicit drugs are between $20 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 had allegedly taken place in June, 2018, at Port Denarau Marina, Nadi.

Trial Day 3:

In court yesterday, Prosecution’s fourth witness, Fiji Revenue and Customs Service Chief Customs Officer Tomasi Drisi said when his team had found the 13 bars of illicit drugs, John Nikolic had requested to speak to his wife as she was not aware of the items being on board.

He further informed the court that his officers told him that John had collapsed and needed medi- cal assistance.

Mr Drisi informed the court that one of his senior customs officers had accompanied John to meet Yvette, who was on the deck, to speak to her when John suddenly collapsed.

He further stated at that time he had seized the items, secured the 13 bars of illicit drugs and called for medical help.

Mr Drisi told the court that John was taken to the hospital accompanied by his officers, Yvette and the border police.

He said the first package that was found contained a silver pistol with live ammunitions wrapped in a towel and the second package found was a box which contained a pistol namely revolver, ammunitions, currency and the tablets.

Mr Drisi also described that the tablets were round and grey in colour and kept in a zip-lock bag in the box with other items.

He also informed the court that the currency was a total value of $15000 US dollars, in $100 bills.

During the cross-examination by Mr Gordon, Mr Drisi revealed that he had persuaded another crew member of the yacht to sign the detention notice in order for the items to be seized and handed over to the border police.

He said he had asked the crew member to sign it on behalf of the yacht master, John, as he was taken to the hospital but the crew member had refused to do so as he had told Mr Drisi that he did not wish to get involved in the situation.

When Mr Gordon questioned the witness about the crew member, Mr Drisi revealed in court that it was the crew member who had showed his team the place where the arms and ammunitions were kept in the yacht.

During the cross-examination by second defence counsel, Mr Pillay, he informed the court that as per the photographs of items found submitted in court by the prosecution, the officers were not wearing any gloves while handling the bags and pack- ages of the items initially found.

He questioned the witness if there was any fingerprint analysis of the bag and the contents of the bag were conducted to which Mr Drisi responded no.

The trial was adjourned for continuation today from 10am before Justice Goundar.

Edited by Susana Tuilau