A 51-year-old woman was arrested on Saturday after allegedly abusing her niece for stealing fruit from the yards of their neighbours in Kampong Speu province.

According to Phnom Sruoch district police chief Say Bunthan, Huy Kimhy allegedly struck the back and thighs of her 11-year-old niece with a tree branch in their home in Chambak commune’s Thmey village.

“We arrested her after receiving information from villagers that she mistreated her niece not just once, but many times,” he said.

“She said she hit the girl because she went to other villagers’ yards and stole their fruit. She is her aunt. [The suspect’s] brother allowed the victim to live with her,” he added, saying that both aunt and niece have been brought to the provincial police.

Provincial deputy police chief Ngin Sokunthea said the girl had been living with her aunt since the age of 1, and yesterday claimed it was the first time she had struck her.

“Now the girl is still with the suspect at the station, because she cried when we tried to separate them,” Sokunthea said.

The suspect will be charged at provincial court today.