A YOUNG MAN who was facing a possible charge over the death of his friend in a jet-ski incident off Phuket is likely to have his passport returned next week, Phuketwan was told today.

Patong police chief Colonel Arayapan Pukbuakao said that the passport will probably be returned to Tang Jun Han, 20, following the successful conclusion of a mediation case between Mr Tang's family and the family of his dead friend, Loh Ying Jie, 20.

The families settled on 100,000 Singapore dollars in compensation after several mediation sessions that began with a request for S$500,000.

The jet-ski collision took place on April 2 at Patong, a day after the two men and three other young friends arrived on Phuket for a holiday. Mr Loh died in a Singapore hospital 11 days later, after he was evacuated from Phuket in a coma on a special flight.

''On April 21, the two parties agreed to exchange $S100,000,'' the colonel said. ''That concluded the mediation. Now the money has been paid, all that remains is for officers to be satisfied that the fatal jet-ski collision was an accident.

''If there is a case to answer, Mr Tang will have to appear in court. If it was an accident, and that's the conclusion of the investigating police, Mr Tang will have his passport returned and be free to go.

''I would expect this all to be finished before the end of next week.''

The first mediation negotiation on April 6 was attended by Mr Loh's father and brother-in-law, the New Paper reported in Singapore.

Mr Loh's brother-in-law, who declined to be named, told investigating reporter Vivien Chan on Phuket: ''At that time, we were told Ying Jie was going to be in a vegetative state and he had an almost zero chance of waking up.

''We were told to include costs like upbringing costs, loss of possible future earnings and nursing costs.''

He told the Singapore newspaper: ''We wish to clarify that we never initiated any talks, we never asked for any compensation. It was the Thai police who said that both parties have to sit down and discuss the compensation.''

After the S$100,000 was transferred last week, both parties went to Kathu police station to sign a statement that they had agreed on a ''compensation'' amount and that the Lohs would not pursue a civil suit.

Mr Loh's brother-in-law said: ''We don't know what will happen (to Jun Han) now because it's up to the police to decide.''

Mr Loh's mother added: ''I already told the police to give Jun Han a chance, to let him go back to Singapore. During the wake, their three friends cried and told me that they have already lost one friend and now another might go to jail.

''They are hurting very badly. It was supposed to be a holiday. My heart broke when I heard them. I told them to be brave. We're not angry with Jun Han.''

The jet-ski operator had told police that three jet skis collided, but Mr Loh's friends insisted that only Mr Loh's and Mr Tang's jet skis were involved.