A Sydney banker and diversity and inclusion boss, David Cao, 37, faces charges of attempted murder in France after allegedly attacking his boyfriend, Callum Forbes, 36, with a hot saucepan and pouring boiling water over him during a luxury hotel stay. The incident occurred on the evening of July 28 at the Château de Perreux boutique hotel in central France, where the couple had booked a night in a 'cave room' before planning to attend the World Gay Pride festival in Amsterdam.

Hotel guests and staff reportedly heard screams from the couple's room. Staff later found Forbes alone and suffering from burns across his body. Forbes, who is recovering in a French hospital with his mother, told Gay Sydney Daily that he believed he might die during the alleged assault. He is expected to have scarring from stitches on his face and back, but the burns are healing and most stitches are in his hair.

Cao allegedly fled the scene in a rental car and was apprehended approximately 36 hours later near the Belgian border. He is currently being held in a French prison.

Prior to the alleged offense, Cao had shared details of his career achievements online. However, former colleagues have offered critical assessments of his professional conduct. One former colleague from the Bank of Queensland described Cao as "highly strung" and "annoying" to work with, stating he had an "inflated opinion of himself" and "wasn't an executive, he liked to think he was."

Cao's employment history includes roles at several major financial institutions. He served as head of retail value creation at ING Australia for four months before his dismissal following the alleged attack. He previously worked at Westpac between 2016 and 2020, and again from 2024 to 2026, in various capacities including consultant, business manager, head of strategy, executive manager, and head of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). His experience also includes roles as chief business development officer and chief of staff to the CEO at the Bank of Queensland, strategy manager at the Commonwealth Bank, and analyst at Goldman Sachs.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it is providing consular assistance to Mr. Forbes. The former couple had been together for nearly three years and had traveled internationally on multiple occasions.