Bahrain sheikh sues Michael Jackson for $7M
p2pnet news view Music:- A Bahraini sheikh is suing strange American pop person Michael Jackson for US$7 million.
“Lawyers for Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa claimed that their client had paid Jackson the amount as an advance on the book and joint recording project with the sheikh, who is an amateur songwriter,” says The Star.
But Jackson insists the money was a gift.
The sheik, the second son of the king of Bahrain, “filed suit against Mr. Jackson seeking repayment for money he gave to Mr. Jackson beginning in 2005, including $2.2 million dollars to cover Mr. Jackson’s legal bills in a child-molestation trial in Los Angeles that year,” says the New York Times, going on:
“A lawyer for the sheik plans to play in court a song written by the sheik and recorded by Mr. Jackson as proof of their close collaboration.”
But Jackson says he may be too ill to show up at a UK High Court hearing and instead wants to tell his story by video.
According to Bahrain’s Gulf Daily News, Jackson walked out of a business deal with the 2 Seas label, “a joint venture with his brother Jermaine and Shaikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa”.
The story quotes Bankim Thanki QC, who’s representing the prince, as saying his his client had formed a, “close personal relationship” with Jackson after he invited him, his children and personal staff to stay in Bahrain in June 2005.
“He said Jackson had signed a contract for recording albums, writing an autobiography and staging shows in which it had been agreed that the BD2.64m fee would be deducted from Jackson’s agreed royalties to pay for the expenses,” says the story, adding
“Mr Thanki said these included a £175,000 (BD308,000) bill for motivational guru Tony Buzan who was flown into Bahrain to work with Jackson.
“The lawyer said his client had hoped to help Jackson rebuild his career and spent millions moving the pop superstar, his children and entourage to the island.”
Costs included the expense of, “bringing out Mr Jackson’s hairdresser,” said Mr Thanki.
Adds the Gulf Daily News:
“The court heard Jackson stayed in Bahrain as a guest of Shaikh Abdulla for almost a year after the end of his child molestation trial in June 2005.
“His career fell apart following his arrest in 2003 on charges that he molested a 13-year-old boy at his Neverland ranch in California.
“He was cleared of all charges and moved to Bahrain, before he left in May 2006 to go to Europe and Japan.
The last thing Shaikh Abdulla expected, “was that he was never coming back,” said Thanki.
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The Star - Jacko gets sued by Arab sheikh, November 19, 2008
New York Times - Jackson’s Next Video: A Court Testimony, November 18, 2008
Gulf Daily News - Jackson ‘betrays’ firm, November
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