Police authorities in Rumbek town of South Sudan’s Western Lakes State say they have arrested a soldier suspected of beating a 16-year old boy to death last week.

Rumbek police spokesman Elijah Mabor told Radio Tamazuj on Monday that the soldier identified as Deng Mangach Manyiel has been arrested awaiting trial.

Peter Panda Kuei, a relative to the late Panater Angan-Ngan who was at the scene said the boy was beaten by the soldier after they disagreed over the price of sweets.

According to the police, the boy who was a pupil at Agergum Primary School died three days after the incident.

Police spokesman Mabor further said investigations have been launched to determine the cause of death. However, he said the soldier was intoxicated at the time of the incident.