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The Times

Singer is sued for the return of ‘support' funds

Patrick Foster, Media Correspondent

As one of the most celebrated song-writers in the history of music, Michael Jackson has worked with all the greats. Sir Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Frank Sinatra are just a few of the members of musical royalty to have collaborated with the self-styled "King of Pop".

But when a real royal came knocking - Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad al-Khalifa, the second son of the King of Bahrain - with a plan to release the sheikh's self-penned ditty as a charity single to help victims of the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the consequences were not as either intended.

The sheikh is now suing Mr Jackson for the return of £4.7 million, which he claims he gave the pop star to help him to get back on his feet after the end of his criminal trial over child molestation charges in California in 2005.

At the High Court in London Mr Justice Sweeney heard that the pair had enjoyed a "close personal relationship".

Bankim Thanki, QC, appearing for the sheikh, said that later in the trial the judge would hear a recording of I Have This Dream, which the sheikh hoped Mr Jackson would record for the benefit of victims of Hurricane Katrina. "It shows the quality of Sheikh Abdulla's songwriting skills and that of Mr Jackson's voice," Mr Thanki told the court.

The court heard that the sheikh, who is also the Governor of the Southern Governate of Bahrain and head of the country's Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife, set Mr Jackson up with a recording studio at his Neverland ranch, before sending him his compositions. He paid the star $35,000 (£23,300) to cover bills at Neverland, before advancing $1 million at the request of one of Mr Jackson's aides.

"Sheikh Abdulla began to support Mr Jackson financially after 2005 when it became clear that Mr Jackson was in very serious financial difficulties, much to Sheikh Abdulla's surprise," Mr Thanki said.

He added that the sheikh had made many more payments, including covering Jackson's $2.2 million legal bill after his criminal trial.

As recompense, the sheikh alleges, the pair entered into a $7 million "combined rights agreement" under which Mr Jackson would release songs through their jointly owned record label, 2 Seas Group. Mr Jackson is alleged to have reneged on the deal.

The court heard that the sheikh paid $2.2 million for Mr Jackson to record I Have This Dream at a London studio. Mr Justice Sweeney was shown a DVD of Mr Jackson attempting to sing a couple of lines of the song, which the judge reassured the court was "plenty loud enough, thank you".

The sheikh claims that he and Mr Jackson agreed the star's vocals were not good enough, but Mr Jackson failed to attend a final recording, scuppering any hopes of a release.

It is also alleged that the sheikh paid for a recording studio to be built in Bahrain for the pair to make music together, and that he footed the bill for Mr Jackson's living, travel and ancillary expenses during his stay in Bahrain from the end of his criminal trial until he left the country in May 2006. The sheikh is seeking repayment of the advance and/or damages for breach of contract, plus interest.

Mr Jackson's defence is that there was no valid agreement and that the sheikh's case is based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence".

The court was told that an application for the singer to appear via video link from Los Angeles would be made.

The case, expected to last 12 days, continues today.

King of Pop

Michael Jackson
Age 50
Estimated wealth Has struggled to pay debts since his arrest in 2003. Owes $270m but owns 50 per cent in Sony/ATV Music Publishing, worth more than $300m
Homes in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Palm Beach. Lost control over $25m Neverland Ranch
Likes (according to fan club) reading, painting, martial arts, animals, philanthropic and humanitarian causes

Prince of Bahrain

Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad al-Khalifa
Age 33
Estimated wealth Unknown but very substantial
Homes palace in Bahrain with music studio. Has lived in Kensington and has a cottage in Devon. Total number of properties is unknown
Likes Led Zeppelin and Bob Marley. Treasures his vintage Gibson guitar and rides a Harley-Davidson around Bahrain

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