Police and prosecutors on Tuesday swooped down on pop icon Michael Jackson's lavish Neverland Ranch amid fresh allegations that the superstar abused a 12-year-old boy, a Jackson lawyer said.
The highly-publicized operation, which took place while Jackson was out of town, reignited suspicions that have been swirling around Jackson since he was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy 10 years ago.
Between 60 and 70 investigators armed with a search warrant issued by a judge swarmed on the sprawling estate near Santa Barbara, California, at 8:30am, Senior Sheriff's Deputy Tim Gracey said.
PHOTO: EPA
Police declined to reveal the reason for the dramatic search of the "Gloved One's" retreat, which draws its name from the Peter Pan children's stories.
However, Jackson family lawyer Brian Oxman confirmed reports that the raid was sparked by new child abuse allegations against the 45-year-old father of three, and dismissed the accusation as "insane."
"The search warrant indicated that there is an accusation by a 12-year-old boy who says that he was molested and the police are seizing information that they feel is relevant to that accusation," he told reporters.
"We are certain that police will be looking for photographs and they are going to enjoy themselves by looking at all the history of Michael Jackson, but we are very doubtful that they will find anything," he said.
Police said the search would go on late into the night and that they would announce details of the search at 11am yesterday.
The raid coincided with Jackson's release of Number One, his first album since Invincible flopped last year.
Police and press vehicles gathered outside his classical-style mansion, which is surrounded by a children's zoo and a welter of theme park rides which "Jacko" opens to local children once a year.
Jackson's Los Angeles publicist, Stuart Backerman, said he had no idea what the reason was for the raid that took place as the singer reportedly was filming a video in Las Vegas.
"We cannot comment on law enforcement's investigation because we do not yet know what it is about," Backerman said.
"Michael will, as always, cooperate fully with authorities in any investigation even as it is conducted, yet again, while he is not home," Backerman said.
The publicist lashed out at media coverage, branding those commenting on the case "a rogue's gallery of hucksters and self-styled `inside sources' ... speculating, guessing and fabricating."
"I've seen lawyers who do not represent me and spokespeople who do not know me speaking for me," he quoted Jackson as saying in a statement.
Prosecutors in Santa Barbara, the town about 160km north of Los Angeles near where eternally-youthful Jackson lives, also declined to comment.
The raid came nine months after prosecutors investigated his "unusual" admission in a British television interview that he had slept in the same bed as a 12-year-old boy in his mansion.
Any claims of wrongdoing were quickly dismissed and Jackson denied any impropriety with the boy while Court TV said the latest probe was not connected to that incident.
Jackson in 1993 was accused of sexually abusing a 13-year-old, a case that he settled out-of-court with a civil payment that was reportedly in excess of US$25 million.
Jackson strongly denied the charges. The investigation, however, remains "open, but inactive," District Attorney Thomas Sneddon said in February.
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