Woman arrested for setting daughter's hands on fire

Distressing images shows the girl's injuries [Photo: Newsflash]

A mum has been arrested after she tied up her daughter's hands and set them on fire as punishment for stealing sweets. The shocking incident happened in the city of Cochabamba in Bolivia after the young victim and her four-year-old sister stole from a local shop. It is claimed that the mum planned to do the same thing to the younger girl - but the little girl managed to run away.

The injured child's mother and stepfather have since been arrested - although the mum was later released because she is six months pregnant. The shop owner complained to the children’s parents after spotting them stealing sweets on the CCTV footage. The 37-year-old mum, whose name has not been revealed, reacted violently and “put her daughter's lives at risk”, according to Ruben Dario Lobaton, director of the Cochabamba Special Force Against Violence.