The nation's top court Thursday found a former South Korean ambassador to the Czech Republic not guilty of helping the late owner of a sunken ferry evade a massive police manhunt.

The Supreme Court, upholding a lower court's decision, acquitted Oh Gab-riel of masterminding the plan to help Yoo Byung-eun, Oh's brother-in-law, hide out from the police manhunt that started after the deadly sinking of the ferry Sewol on April 16, 2014.

Oh was charged with keeping the fugitive informed of the latest news on the investigation and other matters.

The ruling was made in consideration of his family relations based on the local criminal code that condones helping family members evade police.

Police accused Yoo, the owner of the ill-fated ferry, of severely compromising the navigation safety of the ferry by overloading the vessel and ordering an illegal renovation. More than 300 people died in the ferry accident. (Yonhap)