Nigerian Austin Okoye, who drank his own urine twice during the seven-hour transport to quench his thirst, has been awarded $18,700 by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, The Age reported Wednesday.

The commission ruled the man and four other detainees who were locked in the back of the van with him during the 2004 ride to Baxter detention center without food, water or access to bathroom facilities had been subjected to "degrading treatment."

The commission also awarded $18,700 to Huong Hai Nguyen, a Vietnamese man who was found to have been the subject of excessive force when he was removed from his dormitory at Maribyrnong immigration center for the trip to Baxter.

The three other passengers were each awarded $14,000.