A policeman in New Caledonia has been given a three-year suspended prison sentence for beating a 15-year-old boy in custody.
Noumea municipal police facade Photo: RNZ
According to the Nouvelles Caledoniennes newspaper, the incident occurred in July when the teenager was arrested for a car theft and taken to a police cell where he was severely beaten and injured.
In his own defence, the policeman said he lashed out after the teenager made a death threat.
The paper said despite the conviction the policeman was still at work but has been transferred to another unit.
However, it said an administrative inquiry was being carried out which may lead to some sanction.