BANGKOK, THAILAND - A BRITISH man was charged in Thailand on Thursday for organising so-called 'swinging' parties during which couples swap sexual partners, tourist police said.

Christian Arthur Richards, 54, was arrested early Thursday along with six Thais and 16 foreigners including US, French, Indian and Chinese citizens at one of the parties in a Bangkok hotel.

Tourist police commander Colonel Archayon Kraithong said Richards advertised the orgies on his website, and then charged 3,000 baht ($128) for couples and singles to participate.

'He is under interrogation, but has been charged with procurement and commercial sex advertisements, which could land him 10 years jail term or a fine of up to 20,000 baht,' Col Archayon told AFP.

The 22 participants from Thailand, China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, France, the United States and Australia were all released after paying fines of up to 1,000 baht, Col Archayon added.

Richards, who is married to a Thai woman, is alleged to have organised at least 100 swinging parties in Bangkok and the seamy resort town of Pattaya over the last three years.

Although prostitution is officially illegal in Thailand, the kingdom has a reputation for its sleazy bars and explicit sex shows, and the sex tourism industry here is believed to employ hundreds of thousands of Thais.

Col Archayon said there were no prostitutes at the swinging party. -AFP