Sheikh Abdulla and Michael Jackson formed a close friendship
Singer Michael Jackson is to give evidence at London's High Court to counter allegations that he breached a music contract with an Arab sheikh.The star is due to appear in court next week after his lawyer announced that he had been cleared by his medical advisers to travel from the US.Mr Jackson, 50 is expected to arrive in the United Kingdom over the weekend and will give evidence on Monday afternoon.
An application for him to appear via video link was withdrawn. He has been cleared by his medical advisers to travel in two days' time,said the pop star's barrister, Robert Englehart QC.The King of Bahrain's second son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, claims Mr Jackson reneged on a music deal.
He is suing the performer for £4.7 million, claiming that under their agreement, an album, stage play and candid autobiography were to be produced. The Bahraini royal gave evidence on Thursday, and agreed under questioning that Mr Jackson is an emotionally vulnerable person.
But he added that he was a delightful person and always with it.I regarded him in the same way as other businessmen. He is a person who is very switched on, a fantastic businessman and fantastic intellectual, Sheikh Abdulla said.The court has already heard that the sheikh planned to revive Mr Jackson's career with songs he had written himself.
Mr Jackson has rejected the allegations, saying there was no valid agreement and that the case was based on mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence.He added that no project was ever finalized, and any payments he received from the sheikh were gifts.
Earlier this week, the court heard that Mr Jackson may be suffering from an unspecified medical condition and that even in a best-case scenario it would be unwise to travel to the UK to give evidence.A letter from the singer's doctor was shown to the court but not read out.At the time, Mr Jackson's lawyer added that he was awaiting the outcome of test results.
The sheikh's legal team contended that the outcome of pathology tests would take no more 48 hours to be determined.The defense team's experts also said that, even if test results were positive, it would be possible for Mr Jackson to fly to London with suitable dressings.
