Authorities in Kampot province will investigate allegations that a karaoke DJ working in a luxury resort on top of Bokor Mountain was handcuffed, beaten and detained at his workplace after being fired last month, police said yesterday.

Kong Buntha, 30, yesterday filed a complaint to police, claiming he was locked in a room on August 27 after he deleted karaoke software from his employers’ computer in reaction to being dismissed.

“They were angry that I deleted the program – meaning they can’t play music,” he said. “A few security guards detained me, beat me and made me stand up all night with handcuffs on,” he said.

Documents provided by Buntha yesterday confirmed that he has spent time in hospital since.

After the incident, Buntha claimed, guards made him stay in his sleeping quarters for a week while his manager complained to police and demanded compensation.

He added that he left only after contacting his girlfriend, rights group Adhoc and police.

An employee of Thansur Bokor Highland Resort who did not give his name said management leased the karaoke venue to another company.

“So, in fact, [staff there] work for another company,” he said.

A female manager of the Paradise Entertainment Complex, which hosts the karaoke, denied Buntha had been detained against his will.

“My security did not do anything. We have CCTV. You can check any time you like,” she said.

The manager, who did not give her name, said she had fired the man because he made “a lot of mistakes”.

“He was angry, so he deleted the system at my disco,” she said. “So I reported it to police.”

At no point was he physically prevented from leaving, she added, but staff wanted him to remain at the resort until the matter was resolved.

“He wanted to run away. We did not lock him up. We asked him to stay in his room. He went out to drink and eat with his friends.”

Cheav Samith, deputy provincial police chief, said he will investigate when he receives the complaint, which Adhoc helped prepare.