America's financially battered "King of Pop" Michael Jackson believes that his former lawyers and close associates illegally conspired to drive him to bankruptcy, his general manager has said.
Amid ongoing legal battles with unpaid staff, his manager Raymone Bain said he had compiled proof that Jackson's associates and lawyers had crudely conspired against him.
"Mr Jackson is neither shocked nor surprised by these revelations," Bain said in a statement yesterday.
"He has long been suspicious that some of those whom he entrusted to act on his behalf, and to advise him with respect to his personal and business affairs, may not have always acted in his best interest," Bain said.
The manager added that Jackson may file civil and criminal suits against members of his former inner circle. But he did not say who Jackson would single out or when suits might be filed.
Jackson's chief attorneys quit August 2 after accusing the singer of missing payments.
Jackson split from his manager and a team of lawyers on June 27 and announced plans for a major financial reorganization that included his decision to leave his Neverland ranch -- whose staff was going unpaid.
He briefly moved to Bahrain following a 2005 trial on child sex charges. He was acquitted on the charges but the trial drove him to the brink of bankruptcy.
{{/usCountry}}He briefly moved to Bahrain following a 2005 trial on child sex charges. He was acquitted on the charges but the trial drove him to the brink of bankruptcy.
{{/usCountry}}In April, The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times reported that Jackson has incurred debts of $270 million.