Glitter denies sex claims
2005-11-22 08:18
Vung Tau - Former British rocker Gary Glitter, who remains in Vietnamese custody, has denied allegations that he engaged in sex with two girls, including a minor, police officials said on Tuesday.
"In the questioning session on Monday, he denied that he committed lewd acts with the girls," said a police officer from Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on condition of anonymity.
Authorities have decided to extend Glitter's detention at a prison outside Vung Tau by another three days so they can continue their investigation. The one-time British rock star has not been charged with any crime
A day earlier, police said two girls, aged 12 and 18, had claimed in interviews that they had sex with Glitter at his home in this seaside resort town. There were conflicting media reports that the second girl had not yet turned 18, the age of consent in Vietnam. The girls' accusations are currently being investigated, police said.
Heavy punishment
Glitter, 61, whose real name is Paul Francis Gadd, had been stopped by immigration officials at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City over the weekend as he was trying to flee the country for Bangkok. He was later turned over to provincial police in southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau, police and immigration officials said.
Glitter, who rose to fame as a glam rocker in the 1970s, is perhaps best known for Do You Wanna Touch and Rock and Roll (Part 2), which is still frequently played at sporting events.
Police had been searching for Glitter since he fled his rented home in Vung Tau on November 12 amid allegations that he committed lewd acts with a minor.
Under Vietnamese law, sexual contact with a minor under the age of 18 carries varying penalties, depending on the charge. Child rape carries the maximum penalty of death before a firing squad.
If Gadd is charged and convicted of sex with a 12-year-old, regardless of whether he had her consent, that would still be considered child rape under Vietnamese law.
Publicity
The case has been highly publicised in state-controlled media, which had reported that Glitter was seen in Vung Tau with several teenage girls, whom he invited to his home, since moving to the area in March.
Tuesday's Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper quoted Glitter telling police that he had been duped by the girls. "When we met, they all said they were over 20 years of age," said Glitter.
On Monday, the paper had reported that the two girls said they had been paid for sex with Glitter. The 12-year-old told police she had sex three times with Glitter, who paid her 150 000 dong ($10) each time, the paper said. Police have refused to confirm whether either of the youths claimed they were paid for sex.
Neighbours said they were surprised to read the allegations against Glitter. They said the only problem they ever had with him was that he sometimes brought home friends to his oceanside villa and sang songs too loudly.
- AP