US pop music superstar Michael Jackson has asked Saudi Prince Al-Walid Bin Talal to help underwrite his legal defense in battling the newest charges of child molestation launched against the entertainer.
Jackson was arrested on November 20, 2003, on suspicion of child abuse and was released the same day on three million dollars bail. Formal charges of inappropriate contact with a child younger than 14 are expected to be filed against Jackson in the coming weeks.
Labeled the King of Pop, Jackson hopes the allegations do not taint the prince’s clean image of the singer, reported New York Daily News. The two multi-millionaires agreed in 1996 to set up a joint venture called Kingdom Entertainment that would build “family values” theme parks around the world.
"Michael Jackson and I share the same entertainment interests and the same essential values," said Prince Al-Walid when the project was announced. Despite their common interests, the company was never launched.
Prince Al-Walid is ranked fifth on the Forbes billionaires’ list. Last year, he announced the establishment of a new Middle East hotel investment firm. The Kingdom Hotel Investment Group (KHIG) has a paid-up capital of $211 million and an authorized capital of $400 million. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
