TEN more women claim they were sexually molested by Kevin Brown ¿ son of Premier Ewart Brown ¿ according to California authorities, bringing the number of alleged victims to 25 so far.

Brown, a doctor who ran a clinic in Los Angeles, has been charged with 19 felony counts including a lewd act on a 15-year-old, rape, sexual battery by fraud and sexual exploitation.

The alleged assaults occurred between November 6, 2006, and May 31, 2008. Most of the alleged assaults took place on women who attended Brown's clinic as patients, although one charge relates to an alleged attack at a patient's home.

The charges were brought earlier this month after agents from the Los Angeles Police Department took witness statements from eight alleged victims, including an undercover officer who posed as a patient at Brown's clinic.

Since then, an additional 17 women have come forward and prosecutors claim that Brown, 37, could face further charges once the remaining witnesses have been interviewed.

Brown is currently in custody but could be released if he can provide $4 million in bail money. Prosecutors asked for bail to be set at that level because they fear he may attempt to flee to Bermuda if released.

Brown, who is also being investigated for his role in a multi-million-dollar health insurance scam involving Eastern European gangsters, must also prove that any bail money he provides has not been obtained by "felonious activities".

Medical authorities are also seeking to have Brown's licence to practise medicine either suspended or revoked.

So far Premier Ewart Brown has said little in public about the case, which has grabbed headlines around the world.

When his son was first arrested on July 8, the Premier said he hoped the facts would eventually exonerate him.

His only comment since has been to thank the community for messages of support.

In May, the Mid-Ocean News revealed that Brown had organised a celebrity poker tournament at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles ¿ and that the Ministry of Tourism donated free vacations as prizes for the winning gamblers.

The Premier attended the May 17 party while his son ¿ who has held similar events at the mansion on two previous occasions ¿ was photographed rubbing shoulders with celebrities, bunnygirls and soft porn magnate Hugh Hefner.

The Premier later insisted that the tourism prizes ¿ paid for by the taxpayer ¿ were part of a marketing campaign to promote the island to celebrity clientele although according to subsequent revelations in the Bermuda Sun newspaper, there appeared to be no marketing strategy behind the holiday giveaways.

Brown will appear in court again on August 7.