- Michael Jackson's ranch was yesterday raided by police
investigating claims that he molested a boy of 12.
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- Around 20 police officers and forensic experts, plus
an ambulance crew, swooped on Neverland with a search warrant.
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- A judge issued the warrant after the boy, believed to
be from Los Angeles, alleged sexual misconduct against Jacko.
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- The officers were believed to be checking out computer
and video equipment.
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- The investigation echoes that of Jordy Chandler 10 years
ago. He claimed Jacko abused him when he was 13. He settled for £14million
damages.
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- But US Court TV correspondent Diane Dimond said last
night: "In this case the family have no interest in coming to a settlement
with Jacko. This boy's family are interested in justice, not money."
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- She added: "This is a 12-year-old boy. He has made
charges of sexual molestation.
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- "My sources tell me the allegations in this case
are similar to the ones in the Jordan Chandler case. It is the same type
of allegations - sexual abuse against a young boy."
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- Jackson, 45, and his three children, daughter Paris,
five, and sons Prince Michael I, six, and baby Prince Michael II, were
not at the ranch in California when the search began around 8.30am.
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- His spokesman Stuart Backerman said they had been staying
in Las Vegas for the past three weeks while Jackson was filming a video
for his new single One More Chance.
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- A source close to him said that the search had come as
a "total surprise".
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- An insider said: "No one can believe this. Michael
was visibly shocked when he was and told. None of us had any idea."
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- Later Jackson's lawyer Brian Oxman said: "The investigation
is about a 12-year-old boy. This involves a molestation allegation.
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- "Sheriff's deputies have been investigating this
case for months. There's been an ambulance that has already come and gone.
And there is a forensics van, on the scene. Here we go again. This is insane."
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- Reporter Dimond said: "The allegations have not
just been made, it all started a few months ago.
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- "But the boy and his family have been protected.
They are conducting the search now that everything is in place."
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- Dimond revealed that Jackson's home theatre would be
searched.
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- Videos connected to sexual allegations concerning Jordy
were found there. Dimond said: "They will be looking for the same
sort of material as they were in 1993, like photos and videos. It is in
the theatre complex that Michael Jackson used to, and may still have, a
whole video set up.
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- "Here he would film himself and others and I imagine
similar videos are what they are looking for.
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- "They will also be looking for things such as casting
books which were seized in 1993. They are the type of thing which film-makers,
and Jackson often made films, would have to cast people.
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- "So it would say things like, 'I am looking for
a boy between eight and 19-years-old with pictures'.
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- "This sort of thing came out by the box load when
I worked on the case in 1993. They will be looking for anything which will
corroborate what the boy has said."
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- Jackson was not available for comment last night. But
Jermaine Jackson flew to Las Vegas to be with his brother and said the
accusations were "preposterous". He added: "Of course all
this is just not true."
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- His manager Steve Manning said all the family were behind
Jackson.
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- Friend Uri Geller said Jackson was "gullible, innocent,
maybe a little confused... but I never believe he would sexually abuse
a child". He added: "I'm a father myself and I would never associate
myself with anyone who would do anything with a child."
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- In the past Jackson has admitted sharing a bed with children.
He told Martin Bashir in his controversial TV interview: "I have slept
in a bed with many children. It's not sexual, we're going to sleep."
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- In 1993 Jordy Chandler alleged that there was no sexual
contact with Jacko to begin with but that changed. He said: "He then
started kissing me on the lips. He would kiss me while we were in bed together."
He also told of sex acts but Jackson was never charged with any crime.
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- ITV pulled documentary The Michael Jackson Story due
to be shown last night. Controller Steve Anderson said: "An appreciation
of Michael Jackson's music seemed a little inappropriate in the light of
events so we decided to postpone."
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