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A pastor who is accused of raping an eight-year-old girl has been told to buy her dad two crates of beer as compensation.

The 55-year-old former clergyman was handed the sanction after the girl's parents complained to the municipal government in Oaxaca, Mexico, rather than the police.

The alleged rapist was only arrested after reports of the 'fine' sparked outrage across the state, according to the Guardian.

The Oaxaca state attorney general’s office told the newspaper that police had arrested a man on Friday morning on charges of aggravated rape.

The incident is alleged to have happened in the remote indigenous community of Santiago Quetzalapa, located 270 miles from Mexico City, where there's no road access or mobile network coverage.

(Image: Getty)

The case has highlighted the way the Oaxaca state is ruled and Mexico's poor record at investigating sexual crimes.

Helder Palacios, editor of the Ruta 135 website where the case was initially reported, said that Santiago Quetzalapa has a history of abuses which have been handled locally and not attracted the attention of outside authorities.

He added that the system is designed to preserve traditions in the diverse indigenous state but has led to criticism of local leaders who settle disputes according to their own beliefs.

Mr Palacios said: “The argument in these municipalities is that they are governed by their own traditions and customs, but they ultimately end up committing human rights abuses."

Graciela Zabaleta, director of the Mahatma Gandhi Human Rights Centre, said that in situations of sexual violence "a lot of cases are settled this way: with a bottle of liquor".

She said: "When I started, girls were sold for a piece of land or donkeys or for money... Things have got better."