Gary Glitter Facing Child-Sex Rap
Gary Glitter is in a heap of trouble.
The faded glam rocker, best known for the ubiquitous sports anthem "Rock and Roll Part II," was arrested Saturday morning by Vietnamese immigration authorities on charges of child molestation as he tried to board a flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Bangkok, according to published reports.
The news comes two days after the Vietnam's foreign ministry revealed that Glitter, whose real name is Paul Francis Gadd, was wanted by police for questioning regarding allegations he had sex with two girls, one of whom was only 12, while living in the southern resort town of Vung Tau. The age of consent in Vietnam is 16.
The bouffant-wigged British crooner allegedly committed "lewd acts" on the girls. If found guilty, Glitter could face up to 12 years in prison for obscene behavior, while a charge of child rape could carry the death penalty, which would be carried out by firing squad.
"Having sex with a 12-year-old girl, regardless of whether he had her consent, is still considered child rape under Vietnamese law," a police officer in Vung Tua told the BBC.
But police say Glitter has denied the charges. The singer told authorities he was merely teaching the girls English.
Glitter, 61, had been residing in a rented seaside house since March. But he vanished Nov. 12 after local newspaper reports claimed several underage girls had been seen at his home. He also reportedly was kicked out of a local nightclub for feeling up a teenage barmaid.
Investigators went to Glitter's home after seeing the newspaper accounts. Although Glitter had already gone, the police discovered the two girls. It's not known whether the entertainer paid to have sex with them, but a police official confirmed a probe has been initiated to look into the girls' claims.
"We can already say he had sexual relations with Vietnamese adolescents," Do Minh Dan, deputy director of Ba Ria-Vung Tau provincial police, told reporters Sunday.
British consular officials have reportedly been in touch with the "Do You Wanna Touch" singer and are assisting him with an attorney.
This isn't the first time Glitter has run afoul of authorities.
He pleaded guilty in Britain in 1999 to 54 charges of child pornography after kiddie porn was found on his PC.
Glitter ended up serving two months in prison and was placed on a child sex offender list. After his release, he went underground, turning up in Cuba and then Cambodia. He was expelled from the latter, though no charges were ever filed or any crime was alleged to have been committed, and eventually settled in Vietnam.
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