A REMAND prisoner who had complained of being forcibly administered sedatives died of natural causes, a coroner's jury found yesterday.
But the jury recommended closer attention be paid to the physical condition of inmates at Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre, where drug addict Lai Wing-ip, 30, had been held.
Forty-seven days before his death, Lai had complained to a magistrate that staff forcibly administered six doses of sedatives.
But in summing up yesterday, Coroner Rodney Venning said Lai's allegation was not supported by medical evidence heard in the Coroner's Court.
''You need to consider what motivation he had to make allegations against the Correctional Services officers,'' Mr Venning said.
Inspector Wong Kwok-ping, of the Correctional Services Department, said Lai was three times injected with sedatives on May 17 last year.
Mr Wong said his officers did not use force. Lai had accepted the sedatives when told they would relieve his drug withdrawal symptoms.
