The driver, in his 40s, was picked up by Penampang police after the woman lodged a report at 10pm last night.
Penampang police chief Mohd Haris Ibrahim said the 23-year-old woman had booked a ride home in Putatan at 4.48pm.
But instead of sending her straight home, he said, the driver had taken a different route, claiming he wanted to take a look at the Putatan area which he had not visited for some time.
He said the woman did not object.
“Not long after that, the suspect stopped his car in front of a hotel and invited her in for ‘a rest’,” he said.
“He then suddenly touched her hand and leg without her consent, but she managed to flee and later lodged a report,” Haris said.