Sydney Banker David Cao Charged With Attempted Murder in French Hotel Attack

David Cao, 37, a former senior executive at ING Australia and Westpac, has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly attacking his long-time partner with a hot saucepan and boiling water at the Château de Perreux boutique hotel in central France on July 28. French authorities arrested Cao near the Belgian border about 36 hours later as he attempted to flee the country. He faces additional charges of kidnapping, theft, torture, and acts of barbarity.

The alleged attack and arrest

Cao and his partner Callum Forbes, a Sydney entrepreneur, were staying in one of the hotel’s cave rooms carved into a cliff. According to local reports, Cao allegedly struck Forbes on the head with a saucepan and poured boiling water over his body during a late-night incident on July 28. Guests and staff heard screams from the room. Hotel staff discovered Forbes alone with critical injuries.

Cao allegedly fled the hotel in a rental car, driving to Rouen before boarding a train to Paris and then Lille near the Belgian border. French authorities detained him on July 30 at Lille train station after a 36-hour manhunt. He was arrested almost 500 kilometres north of the hotel.

Cao’s banking career and background

Cao worked as head of retail value creation at ING Australia and was fired after the alleged incident. He previously held senior roles at Westpac, including head of diversity and inclusion, and also worked at Commonwealth Bank, Goldman Sachs, and Bank of Queensland. Cao served as a board member of Rainbow Giving Australia, an LGBTQI organisation that secures funding for the community.

According to his Rainbow Giving Australia biography, Cao drove enterprise and systemic change to build a culture of inclusion and increase diverse representation at Westpac. He had cultivated a high-profile presence on LinkedIn, sharing photographs with former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Westpac leadership.

The charges and investigation

Cao has been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping, theft, torture, and acts of barbarity. According to local French media outlet La Nouvelle Republique, Cao admitted to the attack but claimed he did not intend to kill his partner. The alleged victim suffered serious head injuries as well as wounds and burns to his body. The brutality of the blows was such that the handle of the saucepan broke under the impact.

Cao and Forbes were on a European holiday and had planned to attend World Pride Amsterdam the following day. The couple paid approximately $500 for one night in the cave room at the luxury hotel.

What happens next

Cao remains in custody in France awaiting trial. No trial date has been set. The case has drawn significant media attention in Australia due to Cao’s prominent roles in the banking sector and his involvement in diversity initiatives. His arrest marks a dramatic fall from a high-flying career in Australian finance.

Final Thoughts

Cao’s arrest has shocked Australia’s banking sector, where he held senior diversity and inclusion roles at major institutions. The case highlights how high-profile executives can face serious criminal charges abroad, with potential long-term consequences for their careers and freedom.

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