Police would investigate a mother’s claim that an officer tortured her nine-year-old son in Phnom Penh, an official said on Monday.

Chan Sahouth, deputy chief of Russey Keo district police, said a woman had accused a police officer at the Chraing Chamresh II commune police of beating the boy while interrogating him over an alleged steel theft on Sunday.

“He has accused and arrested a young boy over the stealing of steel from a construction company in Borey Rity Apartment, in Tuol Sangke commune. [The officer] was accused of torturing him during an interrogation,” Chan Sahouth said.

“If he has really committed this as accused, [he has] violated juvenile rights and the law.”

The victim’s mother said the officer had “beaten and slapped my son’s head many times for questioning. His activities were very cruel.”

Police had not received an official complaint.