A 26-year-old woman from Folaha remains in police custody charged with assault and bodily harm of a child, after a post on facebook went viral showing screenshots of an assault on a 3-year-old inside a car.

Tonga Police said they were informed of the viral post on Facebook on Friday, January 15 that allegedly showed the mother abusing her child.

The Police Commissioner directed a police investigation. The young girl was removed to a safe place and the mother arrested on the same day.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Tevita Vailea said today, the accused had been charged with assault and bodily harm.

"Every child has the right to feel safe and no child should know what it's like to be abused."

“Tonga Police has a domestic violence unit, with two female investigators and we work closely with both Women and Children’s Centres to help victims of abuse.”

He said Tonga Police has a zero-tolerance policy to any forms of domestic violence.

"We are committed to a future where no woman or child is violently abused."

The accused remains in police custody to appear at the Magistrate's Court on January 20.