A deputy pagoda chief at a rural Kampong Chhnang pagoda was arrested yesterday after being accused of torturing a child monk the day before, said police.

Major Kim Chanthy, police chief of Rolear Phear district, said Venerable Dith Pen, 38, was charged with committing an intentional violent act after assaulting an 11-year-old novice monk at the pagoda.

“He got angry with the victim for taking his notebook from his room to write with,” said Chanthy, adding that Dith Pen had been handed over to the Ministry of Cults and Religion for defrocking.

“[Dith Pen] caught him and tied him with wires inside his room and tortured and beat him, making him seriously wounded.”