LONDON : The second son of the King of Bahrain has taken the King of Pop to court for a US$7-million breach-of-contract lawsuit, demanding repayment of several advances which the star has argued were gifts.

In his lawsuit, Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa claims that he had paid Michael Jackson more than US$7 million as an advance for recording an album, writing an autobiography as well as the production of a musical.

The sheikh’s lawyer told London’s High Court that his client had began to help support the cash-strapped pop megastar in the aftermath of his molestation trial. Since 2005, he has made several payments to Jackson, including US$35,000 to pay utility bills at the singer's Neverland Ranch.

The two men were described to share a “close relationship” and the sheikh had plans to revive Jackson’s musical career, releasing records through their own label. The two had even collaborated on a music project in which Jackson recorded a song written by Sheikh Abdulla which was planned as a charity single to help the victims of the 2004 Tsunami.

Jackson, who was not in court and spoke over a video link from Los Angeles, said that the sheikh’s case was based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence". He also argued that the payments were “gifts” and claimed that there were no finalised projects between the two.

While he did sign an agreement which he understood as giving him a shareholding in a recording company owned by the sheikh, he said that the contract was entered into on the basis of "false representations".

- CNA/km