Sheikh wanted Michael Jackson to sing his own songs

AN ARAB sheikh suing Michael Jackson for £4.7 million was trying to get the star to sing the sheikh's own songs, it was revealed at the High Court today.

Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, second son of the King of Bahrain, had set Jackson up with a recording studio at his Neverland ranch and then sent him his compositions.

Bankim Thanki QC, representing the sheikh, told Mr Justice Sweeney that the day after Jackson's criminal trial ended over child molestation charges in California, the star recorded one of the compositions which the sheikh wanted released as a charity single to help victims of the Boxing Day tsunami.

Mr Thanki promised the judge that a recording of the song would be played in court during the trial.

"It shows the quality of Sheikh Abdulla's song writing skills and that of Mr Jackson's voice," he told the judge.

The two had a "close personal relationship" and discussed the chances of Jackson moving to Bahrain after the end of his criminal trial to "continue their musical collaboration in a more conducive environment", said Mr Thanki.

The sheikh had plans to revive Jackson's musical career, releasing records through their own musical label.

"Sheikh Abdulla began to support Mr Jackson financially after 2005 when it became clear that Mr Jackson was in very serious financial difficulties, much to Sheikh Abdulla's surprise," said Mr Thanki.

He said the sheikh was first asked by an assistant of Jackson for 35,000 US dollars to pay utility bills at Neverland.