Johor Bahru south district police chief Raub Selamat said the 33-year-old local man was arrested in the city at 1.30am today.

He said the incident occurred when the 23-year-old victim booked an e-hailing ride to return to her home in Permas Jaya, after finishing work at a shopping mall in the city.

“While on the way, the individual asked the victim several times to sit on the front passenger seat, but the victim refused as she was worried about her safety.

“However, when the vehicle was at Jalan Bakar Batu near the South Key junction, the victim said she had to obey the request and moved to the front, before she was molested,” he said in a statement here today.

He said the victim managed to push the individual away and escaped by getting out of the vehicle, before lodging a report with the police.

Raub said following the arrest of the individual, the police confiscated an Oppo mobile phone, keys and a Perodua Alza car that he used during the incident and the case was investigated under Section 354 of the Penal Code.

He also reminded members of the public, especially women travelling alone, to be vigilant when using e-hailing services.