Phnom Penh  - An Indian national had been remanded in custody after he allegedly rented a motorbike two days running, and twice tried to sell it for a plane ticket home, police said Tuesday.

Phoeurn Arun, chief of Siem Reap minor crime police, said Dhu Tait Parsad, 31, had rented the bike for 2 dollars an hour and tried to sell it for first 750 dollars and then 600 dollars.

Police investigated because the bike had no license plates and arrested Parsad, who had lived in Cambodia for a decade.

"He says he wanted money for a plane ticket home to India," Arun said. Siem Reap is a northern tourist town, 400 kilometres from the capital.

Under Cambodian law Parsad can be detained for six months pre-trial and his weekend activities could earn him five years in prison. (dpa)