Jackson and sheikh part 'amicably' after legal deal
Michael Jackson and an Arab sheikh suing him at the High Court in London for €7m (€5.5m) million parted “amicably” today after agreeing a settlement to their dispute.
The singer had been due to give evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice in the case involving the King of Bahrain’s son, Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
But on the eve of his highly anticipated appearance, his trip to London was cancelled after lawyers agreed the settlement.
Instead of Michael Jackson giving evidence in the witness box, Bankim Thanki QC, representing the sheikh, told Mr Justice Sweeney: “We are very pleased to announce an amicable settlement has been reached on confidential terms.”
Lawyers for the two sides then went into conference together and released a joint statement confirming no details of the settlement would be given and adding: “They wish each other well in their own respective endeavours.”
Jackson, 50, was invited with his children and entourage to Bahrain by Sheikh Abdulla shortly after the star was acquitted of child molestation charges in California.
While there, the sheikh lavished money on Jackson and built a recording studio, which he believed would be used to record albums by the king of pop using material the sheikh had helped to write.
But Jackson pulled out of the deal in May 2006 after 11 months and has not seen the sheikh since.
