The defence in the current Michael Jackson trial, in which he is being sued by former associate Marc Schaffel for alleged non payment of fees, has leveled a counter allegation that Schaffel was trying to enrich himself.
They called accountant Jan Goren to the stand, who said that he was able to trace most of the complicated transactions in a ledger kept by Schaffel. However, he noted that some of the explanations provided by Schaffel were inaccurate.
Jackson's lawyer, Thomas Mundell, noted that there were a lack of receipts. Goren said that a $500K transaction that Schaffel claimed was a loan to Jackson, was not a loan at all.
Schaffel had testified that Jackson was in New York on September 11 2001. He claimed that Jackson called to ask for $500K, in case he needed to go into hiding with his family, and then stopped at Schaffel's home to pick up the money. Jackson has denied the story.
Goren said Schaffel did withdraw that amount from a checking account for Neverland Valley Entertainment Co., the business he was in with Jackson, but then deposited the same amount into his personal money market account.
Mundell asked Goren if he identified "any 'cash to MJ' transactions that were not bona fide."
"Yes," said the accountant, "numerous ones."
Schaffel's attorney, Howard King, has promised to rebut the claims, and said it would become clear that Schaffel is not seeking reimbursement for any of the alleged loans which are being challenged as deceptive.
Mundell said he was introducing the details to show "a pattern of false claims of loss" by Schaffel.
Quote:
"We want the jury to look at the pattern of deceit".
Goren testified that Schaffel is probably owed $471K.
The defence contends that given the number of deceptive transactions by Schaffel, he is owed nothing.
The trial continues.
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