The Dutchman arrested on suspicion of abusing 48 children in his care at an orphanage in Nepal has earlier convictions for child abuse, the Dutch public prosecution department has confirmed.

Henk Molhuysen (58) was sentenced to eight years in jail by the Spanish courts for child rape in 1995. Sent back to the Netherlands, he was released by the Dutch authorities two years later, ANP reported. Molhuysen set up the orphanage in 2003.