A doctor at the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Referral Hospital was on Wednesday charged with sexually assaulting his colleague and put in pre-trial detention, provincial court spokesman Chhuon Sivin told The Post on Thursday.

The arrest was made by the provincial headquarters after the victim, a physician at the same hospital, filed a lawsuit on Monday against the defendant who allegedly attempted to rape her in a room at their working place the day before.

The suspect, identified as only HSH is now held at the provincial prison after the investigating judge at the court charged him with “indecent assault” in accordance to Article 246 of the Criminal Code, said Sivin.

According to Article 246, the suspect faces one to three years in prison and a fine of between two and six million riel ($492-$1,475) if found guilty.

Meas Somaly, Kampong Chhnang provincial deputy police chief in charge of anti-human trafficking and juvenile protection, confirmed that the suspect was arrested on Tuesday, immediately after her team had received the plaintiff’s complaint.

“It was true that the victim lodged a complaint at the provincial headquarters, but I am unable to disclose the full details of it,” she told The Post on Thursday.

A police officer who wished to remain anonymous and had cited the lawsuit said that on Sunday evening, HSH followed the plaintiff and hugged her from behind as the latter stepped into the restroom, but she managed to break free and run away.

Later on, the anonymous source continued, the suspect followed the victim all the way to her room where he touched and fondled her body, forcing her to run off to her friend for help.

The following morning, the victim filed a lawsuit at the Kampong Chhnang provincial police headquarters, the source said.