SEOUL » South Korean police said Tuesday they’ve detained a university design professor for allegedly forcing a former student to eat human feces and subjecting him to other cruel acts.

The alleged violence began after the professor hired the ex-student in 2013 as an employee at a design-related organization that he runs, according to a statement from Seongnam Jungwon police station just south of Seoul.

The professor and three other employees, also all former students, allegedly beat the victim with a baseball bat and other weapons over what they said were professional mistakes and poor character. The three accomplices have also been detained.

The defendants also allegedly placed plastic bags over the victim’s head before firing pepper spray inside them and forced him to eat their feces and drink their urine from plastic bottles on 16 different occasions, police said.

The victim put up with it because he hoped the professor would help him get a job, according to police.

The professor was also accused of forcing the victim to work at a restaurant and taking his salary.

Authorities became aware of the case after getting a tip from an employee at the victim’s restaurant, police said.

The design-related organization run by the professor is a non-profit body that publishes academic journals and hosts forums, according to police.

Police refused to provide the names and other personal details about the professor and his three accomplices. The victim’s name was also withheld.