Vietnam- DISGRACED 1970s rock star Gary Glitter could face death by firing squad if convicted of having sex with a girl aged just 12, police in Vietnam said.

The revelations come after two girls, aged 12 and 18 years, told the police they had sex with the former singer – real name Paul Francis Gadd – at his rented home in the southern resort of Vung Tau in Vietnam.

There were conflicting reports that the second girl had not yet turned 18.

Under Vietnamese law sexual intercourse with a 12-year-old, regardless of whether there is consent, is considered rape and carries a maximum penalty of death before a firing squad.

However sexual contact with a minor carries varying degrees of penalties, with the maximum being a 12-year prison sentence.

The 61-year-old former singer was arrested on Saturday at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City as he tried to flee the country.

He left his rented home in Vung Tau a week ago amid allegations about his relationships with two teenage girls.

Glitter has been taken back to Vung Tau for further investigation by the police.

He has not been charged with any crime but remains in custody at a jail outside the coastal city, police said.

Vung Tau police said they were continuing to investigate the case and will be questioning him further.

The case has been highly publicised in the state-controlled media, which had reported Glitter was seen in Vung Tau with several teenage girls, whom he invited to his home since moving to the area in March.