A Binh Duong Province police officer Tuesday admitted slapping a suspect who claimed he needed hospital treatment after being tortured with a lit cigarette and a lighter.

Lai Uyen Commune deputy Police Chief Van Hoan Tung said Pham Minh Ly had been taken into custody on November 9 for questioning about a quarrel over some rental properties.

Tung said he slapped Ly's face a few times because he didn't believe Ly had provided his real name.

Ly, 27, from central Quang Nam Province, also goes by the name of Coi.

Tung said he went to bed after slapping Ly and didn't know who had inflicted other injuries on him.

Ly told Thanh Nien he had been handcuffed by one arm to the window, beaten with a cane and tortured with a burning cigarette and a lighter.

When released at around 6 a.m. the following day, Ly went to hospital, where he remained for a week until last Saturday, he said.

A 13-year-old boy from Dong Nai Province has also claimed to be the victim of police abuse.

Nguyen Thai Dung told Long Khanh Town police that last Saturday he and a friend had been beaten by Xuan Lap Commune police after becoming embroiled in a fight with another boy.

The boys were released from the commune police station later that day but Dung collapsed on the way home and was hospitalised at Long Khanh Town's general hospital until Monday.

Long Khanh police Tuesday advised Dung to get a certificate from the hospital to prove his injuries to back his claim.

Nguyen Thanh Chau, head of Xuan Lap Commune, Tuesday said two unnamed police officials had admitted beating Dung.