Feb 10, 2010 (DVB), A man from Burma's southern Mon state yesterday died from injuries sustained whilst beaten by a mob of around 20 policemen, his mother told DVB.

Pyi Sone had entered into an argument with a village official near to Moulmein, the Mon state capital, on 31 January. That evening police took him from his house.

The 28-year-old was reportedly beaten en route by around 20 policemen before being taken to the station.

"He was really drunk when the policemen arrived. They dragged him out of the house and he asked them if he had done anything wrong. They beat him up in the street and took him [to the station]," said his mother, Kyi Shein.

He was taken to hospital in the early hours of the morning, his mother said, where he was closely watched by two policemen whilst "screaming that he was suffering from chest pains".

"When the dawn broke, I saw his face his all black from bruises. He was also unable to urinate and excrete and was having difficulty breathing," she said. "Eight days later, he said couldn't bear it anymore, and took his last breath."

She said the hospital's crime scene doctor reported that Pyi Sone had died from a disease and not from the injuries.

"The doctor claimed that my son has hepatitis B. And that's true as the whole of Burma has hepatitis B. My son has never been sick and the village can confirm that. He died because policemen beat him up."

Officials at Rogo police station, where Pyi Sone was initially taken, were unavailable for comment.

Reporting by Khin Hnin Htet