British pop star Gary Glitter, charged in Vietnam last week with child molestation, is now under investigation for raping children, Vietnamese police said today.
A senior investigator said the inquiry into the more serious charge was based on medical tests on girls who alleged they had had sex with the 1970s rock icon.
Police last week charged 61-year-old Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, with "engaging in perverse activities with children" and ordered him to remain in custody pending further investigation.
Senior Police Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Duc Trinh, who is heading the investigation, said medical tests on two girls, one under 13 years of age, had shown evidence of sexual intercourse, but it was not clear with whom.
"If we can get the legitimate evidence, we can press the additional charge against him of raping children," he said.
"The charge of engaging in perverse activity with children is already obvious, while the charge of raping children is an extremely serious crime which has the higher penalty of death.
"That is why it requires being extremely cautious during the investigation process, and only when there is legitimate evidence is it possible to press the charge."
Glitter, who was arrested on November 19th as he tried to flee the country, has denied allegations that he molested girls as young as 12, and insists he was just helping them with their English.
The age of consent in the communist southeast Asian nation is 16. Glitter could face up to 12 years in jail if found guilty of engaging in perverse acts with children.
The more serious charge of child rape carries a possible death penalty. Trinh said police had questioned six girls and young women, two of them under 13, who said they had a "sexual relationship" with Glitter while he lived in the southern resort of Vung Tau.