Bahrain

Prince felt betrayed by Michael Jackson

Article published on the 2008-11-18 Latest update 2008-11-18 18:47 TU

Michael Jackson in 1984
(Credit: Wikimedia)

A London high court on Tuesday was told that Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a Bahraini prince, felt taken advantage of by pop superstar Michael Jackson after the performer allegedly reneged on a deal. The second son of the King of Bahrain is suing Jackson for seven million dollars (5.5 million euros), demanding repayment of several cash advances that Jackson claims were gifts.

"My client felt a strong sense of personal betrayal because this was someone he considered a close personal friend," the prince's lawyer Bankim Thanki told the court.

"The work they had done together and the plans for the future all seemed to be totally frustrated," he added.

Thanki said that Jackson had signed a contract to record albums, write an autobiography and stage shows. The document outlined a payment of seven million dollars to be deducted from Jackson's royalties to pay for the expenses.

Thanki told the court that Al Khalifa helped Michael Jackson financially after he was brought to court on charges of child molestation in 2005. Jackson was aquitted of all charges, but the trial left him cash-strapped. Al Khalifa gave Jackson one million dollars in April 2005, and paid his 2.2 million-dollar legal bill, according to Thanki.

Jackson's lawyer Robert Englehart was not in court but has been called on to give evidence via video link in Los Angeles. "There is no doubt that Sheikh Abdulla was very generous in his hospitality and general treatment of Michael Jackson," he said.

Jackson's defence claims that the lawsuit is based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence."