LUND, Sweden, March 29 (UPI) -- Police in Sweden say they've arrested a man accused of showering unwanted affectionate attention on at least 17 women.

The man allegedly approached the women asking for road directions or for advice on buying a present for a 10-year-old cousin or niece, reported TT, the Swedish news agency.


When the women replied, he would give them an enthusiastic hug, kiss them on the cheek and moan in their ear, TT reported, noting the alleged assaults occurred in the towns of Lund and Malmo during the last year.

The man, who was not publicly identified after his arrest Friday, was reported to be an exchange student who told police it was natural in his culture to kiss women on the cheek. It was not immediately known if hugging and moaning were also part of the man's culture.