Fiji man charged over Australian tourist`s boat death

Suva: A man appeared in a Fiji court Monday charged with manslaughter over the death of an Australian tourist in a boat collision off the South Pacific nation last week.

Jimi Beti, 33, faces charges of manslaughter, criminal recklessness and negligence over the death of 40-year-old Mark Hardaker of New South Wales state last Thursday. Hardaker was returning from a fishing trip when a speedboat driven by Beti, a Fijian, allegedly crashed into his vessel, causing fatal head injuries. The court was told Beti was operating the boat without a licence. He was refused bail and remanded to appear in Lautoka High Court on June 4. Tourism is the nation`s highest foreign exchange earner, with more than 700,000 Australians and New Zealanders travelling to Fiji annually.