Officials are investigating claims that a 9-year-old child with autism was physically and sexually abused by his classmates, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said Thursday.

On Monday, a woman who identified herself as the mother of a third-grader wrote in an online posting that her son -- who has Asperger syndrome -- was repeatedly beaten by his classmates. She said the two boys accused of abuse played “arrest games” with the victim, in which he was forced to play the role of a criminal being arrested by police. Bruises on the boy’s thigh and bloodied penis were shown in the attached photos.

“The officials from the SMOE visited the school Wednesday and collected testimonies from both sides. But we still were unable to meet the victim, as his parents are saying he is too fragile physically and mentally to meet outsiders,” said an SMOE official in the department of student affairs. The boy has been unable to attend school, located in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul, since June 15. Officials have met with one of the alleged attackers, all of whom have denied the accusations.

The school committee concluded that there was bullying, but said there is no evidence to support the claim of sexual abuse. The accused were forbidden from coming in contact with the victim until the end of the 2015 school year, and were ordered to participate in two hours of “special education” with their parents. 

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)