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Jacko failed to keep £3.7m music deal, says sheikh
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent17 Nov 2008
MICHAEL JACKSON begged a Bahrainian prince for money to pay his home bills, the High Court heard today.
The pop star took £3.7 million to sing songs composed by Sheikh Abdullah Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa after the pair began collaborating from 2004 onwards, the court was told.
He and Jackson agreed a deal to release joint collaborations and raise money for the victims of the tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.
But the sheikh claims the near bankrupt former billionaire took the money and refused to carry out his part of the bargain. Jackson's personal assistant allegedly made a request for money in 2005 to pay "utility bills" at his Neverland ranch ,which the singer has now been forced to sell.
Bankim Thanki QC, representing the sheikh, told the court his client was very surprised at the perilous state of Jackson's finances.
The man once called the prince of pop found his reputation in tatters and record sales plummeting after a series of child abuse allegations, even though a trial ended in a not guilty verdict.
Jackson and the sheikh had begun a "burgeoning relationship and musical co-operation" from August 2004 onwards. The tsunami charity record was designed to showcase the quality of the sheikh's "song-writing" skills and Michael Jackson's voice.
Another charity record for the New Orleans victims of Hurricane Katrina was planned.
But while Jackson admits he failed to meet any obligations the sheikh may have expected he insists there was no legally valid agreement between them.Mr Al-Khalifa, the second son of the king of Bahrain, is suing Jackson for breach of contracts over the $7 million (£3.7 million) alleged deal said to have been signed in April 2006.
To the dismay of photographers outside court Jackson did not attend court for the opening of the trial which is expected to last up to 12 days.
The sheikh has extensive administrative duties in the kingdom but has "a substantial interest in music which led him to be introduced to the Jackson family."
Under the terms of the alleged deal Jackson is said to have agreed to major recording obligations, an autobiography and a musical stage play with ancillary rights. Jackson repudiates the agreement but Sheikh Abdulla does not accept that repudiation.
The case continues.
