A group of police officers must financially compensate the family of a drunken man who died as a result of their failure to provide proper care.

The Seoul Central District Court ruled Thursday that the policemen have to pay 10 million won to the family of the man only identified as Lee.

According to court records, Lee passed out outside on a rainy day in December 2006 in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province. He was taken to a nearby police sub-station but left uncared for despite his calls for medical attention. Five hours later, he was taken to a hospital but declared dead on arrival.

``The deceased showed signs of being seriously ill that were not common for a person who was drunk,'' Senior Judge Lee Jun-ho said in the ruling. ``Police officers on the scene didn't even bother to do CPR or any other measures to help him.''

The judge said the police officers acted negligently and should compensate Lee's family according to a law on restitution and compensation. He told the policemen to pay equal amounts.

However, the court observed that it was hard to validate the family's allegations that police brutality was the cause of Lee's death, in ruling that they would only receive a smaller sum of money.

foolsdie@koreatimes.co.kr