TEN residents of Bei village in Preah Sihanouk province’s Mittapheap district have appealed to the provincial court for the release on bail of three men whom they say have been wrongly accused of robbery, citing health concerns as well as allegations that the men have been tortured.

The men were arrested on suspicion that they had stolen a mobile phone, though they have said that they merely found it and were hoping to turn it in for a reward.

Meas Sophaon, the brother of one of the men, said that he was concerned for their physical safety inside the prison.

“[My brother] told me ... he was tortured by the prison guard, and he couldn’t bear it,” he said.

Keo Rasmey, a prison monitor for the rights group Licadho, said he had also received a complaint from the group, but that he doubted that the men had been tortured in the prison.

Prison and court officials could not be reached Thursday.