Hervé Flambeaux, 49, is said to have resisted arrest when police attempted to detain him in November last year for improper dressing in the Chulia Street backpacker district.

Teoh Seng Aun, the honorary consul-general of France in Penang, said Flambeaux, who was diagnosed with a chronic psychiatric disorder in 2005, was found by police in a “disorderly state” and was arrested for resisting arrest with force.

He was then placed in a remand prison in Bayan Baru before being moved to the Penang Prison in December, pending his trial.

Teoh who visited Flambeaux said he appeared to have lost weight and refused to take his medication for psychiatric disorder.

He said Flambeaux’s family member had received a letter from his psychiatric doctor. The letter was sent to the French embassy.

Teoh said the letter, which was translated into Malay, was sent to the Prisons Department but had yet to get a response.

“We just do not want him to stay too long in prison, knowing his condition. We are fully aware that he is subject to laws in our country, but we must do our best to protect him.”

Teoh added that Flambeaux claimed he was assaulted in prison.

“I hope that he can be released soon to go back to receive treatment for his schizophrenia in France,” he said in a press conference to select media outlets today.

Teoh said on Dec 21, the Prisons Department allowed him to visit Flambeaux, accompanied by an interpreter.

He said police had not informed the French embassy or the local consulate that he was about to be charged in court for his offence.

Teoh said the only time police communicated with him was when they said he was in police remand at a lockup in Bayan Baru.

A police officer with knowledge of the case told FMT that the Frenchman was arrested under Section 353 of the Penal Code for using criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty.

He faces two years’ jail or a fine or both if convicted.

The officer claimed that Flambeaux had refused to cooperate when he was spotted “walking around naked” in Chulia Street.

“We even got a French person to communicate to him in French to dress up and go back to his hotel, which he refused,” the officer said.

The officer said the man was brought to court to be charged on an unspecified date, with no pleas recorded as he did not understand the charge read to him in English.

The court then set a different date, the officer said, until the court gets a French interpreter to hear his case. He was unrepresented.

FMT has contacted the Attorney-General’s Chambers for a response.