A 37-year-old Sydney banker, identified as David Cao, faces accusations of attempting to murder his partner at a luxury hotel in France. French authorities apprehended Cao near the Belgian border approximately 36 hours after the alleged assault, which reportedly occurred on July 28 at the Château de Perreux boutique hotel. He had been on the run in a rental car, according to reports.
Authorities allege that during a late-night incident, Cao struck his partner on the head with a hot saucepan and subsequently poured boiling water over his body. Guests and hotel staff reportedly heard screams emanating from the room. Following the alleged attack, hotel staff discovered Cao's partner alone and critically injured. Cao was later arrested in Lille, a city located nearly 500 kilometers north of the hotel.
The couple had reportedly been on a European vacation and had booked the hotel for a single night before planning to attend World Gay Pride in Amsterdam. Cao, a high-ranking executive at ING bank, has previously held senior positions at Westpac, including Head of Diversity and Inclusion. His career also includes roles at Commonwealth Bank, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of Queensland. He serves as a board member for Rainbow Giving Australia, an LGBTQI organization focused on securing funding for the community.