Five years ago, the family of a Vietnamese national who died in custody at a police station in Saitama Prefecture sought compensation for problems with the police's response, and the prefecture settled the case by paying a settlement fee of 5 million yen to the bereaved family.
A 57-year-old Vietnamese national was arrested and charged with forcible obscenity five years ago and died complaining of ill health while in detention at the Bunan Police Station of the Saitama Prefectural Police.
The man had complained of abdominal pain and other symptoms about two months before his death, and the police had provided four opportunities for medical examination, but the bereaved family filed a lawsuit with the prefecture for compensation, claiming that the police failed to respond and left the deterioration unattended, even though the lawyer insisted on medical examination two days before his death.
In this trial, it was found out from interviews with related parties that a settlement was reached by paying 5 million yen as a settlement fee on the 2rd.
Regarding the settlement, Saitama Prefectural Police Headquarters Chief Inspector Takuya Sato commented, "We pray for the repose of the man's soul and offer our condolences to the bereaved family."
In this lawsuit, the doctor who examined the man about a month before his death was sued by the hospital for failing to be admitted to the hospital and properly follow-up, but the hospital settled by paying a settlement fee of 4 million yen to the bereaved family.
Plaintiffs: "Don't Let It Happen Again"
The plaintiffs commented, "It is very unfortunate that this has happened because it was the police and hospitals that could only rely on their health while in detention, and we hope that this will not happen again in the future."