Michael Jackson is being sued by a Bahraini sheikh for charging him US$7 million as an advance on an album and an autobiography that was never produced.

Lawyers for Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa claimed that their client had paid Jackson the amount as an advance on the book and joint recording project with the sheikh, who is an amateur songwriter. However, Jackson has claimed that the money was a gift.

Jackson was recently forced to hand over the title deed to his Neverland ranch.