The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered the police and government to pay RM357,500 to the family of lorry driver P Chandran who died at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters lock-up more than four years ago.

Justice S Nantha Balan, in his 86-page written grounds, agreed with the finding of coroner Ahmad Bache that Chandran had died needlessly and his death could have been averted had the police performed their duties and responsibilities.

The judge ruled that the police and government acted in negligence in not sending Chandran to the hospital and breached their duty to take care of the lorry driver.