Police on Monday arrested a Kampong Cham bank worker in Tnort Ta Say village in Stung Trang district after a woman filed a complaint against him for confining, beating and threatening to kill her following an unsuccessful marriage proposal.

Stung Trang district police chief Pak Cheat said the 29-year-old man is an ABA Bank staffer while the woman, 25, works at Acleda Bank.

The couple knew each other and his parents had proposed marriage, but the woman’s family allegedly asked for a large dowry.

“The suspect was angry with her family, who asked for a high dowry and they could not reach an agreement. The man’s anger was caused by them demanding too much dowry,” Cheat said.

On Monday morning, the woman was travelling alone when the man forced her into a rental room in Tnort Ta Say village, where he allegedly proceeded to kick and punch her.

He is said to have strangled the woman and threatened to kill her with a knife before she escaped. She then went to the police, who found bruises on her back, he said.

Police arrested the suspect, who confessed to beating the woman in anger after her family demanded a dowry his could not afford.

A report was made to send him to provincial police for further legal action.