BATTAMBANG: Authorities arrested a tuktuk driver for malicious intent after a French tourist felt she had to jump from the vehicle, causing injuries and facial scarring.

In a Facebook post, Deputy Director of the Battambang Department of Tourism, Ham Arun, said that the police had arrested the suspect, a 29-year-old male named Tep Phaly (aka Linh), for attempted theft. The man is a tuktuk driver from nearby Kamakor village and was brought in after a French woman filed a complaint with local authorities.

Helene Dietschy, a 21-year-old French medical student, had arrived in Battambang from Phnom Penh on August 5 around 4am. She ordered a tuktuk to take her to the Lucky Hotel, but when the driver arrived at the hotel, the driver prevented her from leaving and continued to drive her to somewhere more remote. Sensing danger, Helene jumped from the vehicle, causing injuries to her face and a broken middle finger.

After the incident, she filed a complaint with the authorities, who immediately began a search for the driver who was arrested and interrogated on August 7 to build a court case.