ABC Pacific Beat
Date: 2 Nov 2020
By:  Evan Wasuka on Pacific Beat

The family of a fisheries observer who died onboard a Taiwanese ship earlier this year are demanding answers from authorities after the ship and its crew were released, and the cause of death changed from blunt force trauma to complications from hypertension.

His sister Nikora Kaierua said they were shocked when the vessel Win Far 636 was released in mid-October and when they followed up learnt his death had been attributed to natural causes.

"There was a change in the report, that he had died of hypertension. How could they come up with such conclusion without physically examining the body? We're not happy," she said.

Kiribati Police Commissioner Iore Tokantetaake told the ABC in an email despite the vessel being free to leave the country, investigations would continue.    [FULL  STORY]