Michael Jackson Glove At Heart Of US Custody Battle

The US government is fighting to keep Michael Jackson’s glove out of the hands of an African dictator’s son.

Jackson’s famed sparkly glove was purchased by Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue with dirty money. According to Sky News, the 42-year-old moved to the US in 1991 and allegedly laundered stolen public funds into the country.

In April 2011, France’s government seized $71 million in assets alongside a $38 million private jet and a $30 million Malibu mansion.

Michael Jackson’s glove was just one of many lavish items purchased by the criminal. Officials in France seized the criminals $68 million mansion, which housed 101 rooms including a movie theater, night club, and hair salon.

While 70 percent of Equatorial Guinea’s population lives in poverty President Obiang amassed a huge fortune valued at more than $300 million.

The dictator’s son owns various Michael Jackson items including seven life-size statues valued at $494,000.

Last year the US government attempted to seize Obiang’s Malibu mansion, but a California judge threw out the case. The judge said the US government failed to prove that Obiang obtained his fortune illegally.

The US Government has since amended its lawsuit which will heard on Monday.

According to the New York Times Obiang has been named Guinea’s Vice-President and part of the country’s mission to Unesco in an attempt to receive diplomatic immunity.

Obiang Jr.’s attorneys argue that the US government has no grounds to retain Michael Jackson’s memorabilia. His lawyers write:

“The government still has not identified a single victim of extortion or bribery. All that the government has is evidence that [the] Claimant spent money. Where the money came from is a matter of pure speculation.”

Do you think Michael Jackson’s glove should be taken away from a man with a history of money laundering from locations around the world?