An Army lieutenant colonel was arrested Wednesday on charges of sexually assaulting and harassing a female officer on several occasions, the Army said Wednesday.

The 48-year-old lieutenant colonel, whose name was withheld to the media, is alleged to have sexually assaulted the female officer in a motel in September after they drank alcohol together. He is also purported to have sexually harassed her in his office and car several times.

“Currently, we are safely protecting the victim and will do our best to prevent the repeat of such a case. We will sternly deal with this case in due accordance with the related law and regulations,” a senior Army official told reporters, declining to be named.

The victim relayed what her boss did to her boyfriend, who is also an Army officer. Her boyfriend told his acquaintance about the case, who then reported it to the military police.

The Army prosecution on Wednesday sought an arrest warrant to detain the lieutenant colonel. He is denying part of his charges and has hired his defendant, the Army said.

The incident came amid increasing public criticism over sexual misconduct by senior Army officers. A two-star general has also been arrested on charges of sexually abusing his junior officer.

By Song Sang-ho (sshluck@heraldcorp.com)