Solomon Islands police have given shell money to the family of a man who died in police custody following his arrest on New Year's Day.
The Guadalcanal police commander, David Siosi, says police gave the man's relatives shell money after the family gathered outside the provincial police headquarters in Henderson to demand compensation.
Mr Diosi says the situation was volatile and the police had to tread cautiously to resolve the matter.
He says the death is under investigation.
The Solomon Star reports the man, who was believed to be in his 20s, was arrested after police responded to a road block incident about 1am on New Year's Day.
The man was placed in custody but duty officers later found him unconscious and he was declared dead at a local hospital.
Members of the public with any information are being urged to come forward to help police with their investigation.
