- LOS ANGELES (IOL) - Michael
Jackson paid more than $20-million to settle a civil suit by a boy who
accused the pop superstar of molesting him in 1993, according to a copy
of the agreement obtained by Court TV.
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- The document stated that the settlement should not be
construed as an admission that Jackson had "acted wrongfully"
towards the child, and stressed the singer had only chosen to pay because
of the impact the molestation allegations could have on his future income.
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- In the 31-page agreement signed in January 1994, Jackson
agreed to pay $15,3-million to be held in a trust fund for his accuser,
now 24, as well as $1,5-million to each of his parents.
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- A further $5-million was set aside for the plaintiff's
lawyer.
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- In exchange, the accuser and his parents agreed to not
pursue civil claims against Jackson.
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- Although it has always been known that Jackson settled
the suit, the leaking of the confidential document detailing the payout
is still damaging ahead of the star's trial on a fresh set of molestation
charges.
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- "Whoever released this agreement, whether it is
actual or not, did it deliberately and wilfully, with the intent of influencing
potential jurors - which is outrageous and an act of desperation,"
said Jackson spokesperson Raymone Bain.
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- Jackson, 45, is currently awaiting trial on charges of
molesting a 12-year-old boy at his Neverland Ranch in California last year.
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- The self-styled "King of Pop" pleaded innocent
in April to a 10-count indictment that included charges of child molestation,
conspiracy to falsely imprison and abduct someone, and extortion.
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- This article was originally published on June 16, 2004
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- http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3&art_id=qw1087396562680U225
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