Vietnam court upholds Glitter's jail sentence

Glitter has been imprisoned since his arrest in 2005. Picture / Reuters.

HO CHI MINH CITY - A court in Vietnam on Thursday upheld child molestation charges and a three-year jail sentence for former rock star Gary Glitter, who had proclaimed his innocence and lodged an appeal.

A judge in the People's Supreme Court of communist-run Vietnam announced the decision in court in Ho Chi Minh City after a one-day hearing that was closed to the public and the media.

"The appeal court has decided not to accept the appeal," said judge Truong Vinh Thuy through an interpreter. "The appeal court confirms the sentence of three years. The appeal court decided to expel the accused after serving the sentence."

The judge said the sentence will take effect from November 19, 2005, the day the disgraced Glitter was arrested while trying to leave Vietnam.

Throughout the 40-minute reading of the decision, Glitter stood facing the judge with his hands behinds his back, and occasionally shaking his head over the description of the evidence and the charge against him.

"No justice here in Vietnam," Glitter screamed while being taken out of the courtroom. "They did not listen to the defence at all."

As the handcuffed Glitter, dressed in a black cap, black shirt and black pants, was led out of a padlocked green police vehicle into the court, he pleaded: "I'm innocent".

Glitter, 62, famous in the 1970s for his flamboyant hairstyle and hit song "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)", has been imprisoned since his arrest in November 2005 while trying to leave the Southeast Asian country.

He was convicted on March 3 after a one-day closed trial of sexually molesting two 11-year-old girls in the southern resort town of Vung Tau. He may be eligible for parole in December.

Charged under his real name, Paul Francis Gadd, his punishment included deportation after serving his sentence.

- REUTERS