A New Zealander was arrested and charged with intentional violence at the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court yesterday, two days after an argument with a Sihanoukville jet ski rental agent turned ugly.

Nhet Sophoan, deputy director of the provincial minor crime office, said the 24-year-old man was arrested after three victims lodged a complaint saying he had attacked them on Monday evening at the crowded Ochheuteal Beach.

“We learned that only one foreign man started the fight with the victims and other foreign men [involved] were only trying to break up the fight,” he said.

Chi Koung, deputy director of the provincial tourist police, said he had witnessed the fight which left three injured, including one who lost his teeth and two others with facial injuries. The foreigners had rented jet skis but refused to return to shore when the agent indicated their time was up, Koung said.

After finally returning, an argument broke out, with the arrested foreigner swinging at the victims, he added.

“One of the foreigners hit a victim in the face, just because they had tried to call [them] back to shore many times,” Koung said.