A policeman has been charged with cruelty to a child after being accused of beating his stepson with a slipper, causing the child to be hospitalised.

A recent ruling by the director of public prosecutions had ordered that the lawman be charged. The accused man, Haniff Blake, was taken before the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's Court last Friday.

The court heard that the child, who was 10 years old at the time of the incident, was beaten with a slipper for coming home from school at 8:45 p.m. The incident reportedly happened in 2008.

He was reportedly beaten with a slipper and suffered bruises to his hands, back and chest. He also reportedly received a wound to his forehead.

problem child

The lawman's attorney told the court that the child in question was what could be described as a "problem child". She said he had once been sent to a place of safety and after leaving there had stayed with a female relative, who found it difficult to control him. She asked for counselling to be offered to the child and to the accused.

The policeman was granted $200,00 bail with surety and is to return to court on September 16 to give enough time for counselling to begin.