Swiss national and longtime Siem Reap resident Rudolf Knuchel was arrested yesterday on child sex charges for what a local child protection NGO said was his third time while in Cambodia.

Knuchel, chairman of Aseana Hotels and Resorts, was sentenced to two years in prison in 2010 for committing indecent acts against a 14-year-old boy. One year of that sentence was suspended.

As of press time, Knuchel was being questioned by police on new allegations, Siem Reap Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Unit chief Duong Thavry confirmed yesterday.

“He has been detained temporarily at our provincial police office,” she said.

Yi Moden, deputy director of field operations for the NGO APLE, said the 66-year-old’s arrest yesterday hinged on a 15-year-old boy’s testimony that he “had sex with Knuchel on multiple occasions in exchange for money”.

Knuchel could not be reached for comment.