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[Henry_Cowell]

Khaleej Times Online >> News >> THE U.A.E

Michael Jackson�s toilet faux pas in Dubai
By Amira Agarib
13 November 2005

DUBAI � When she went to the ladies washroom in the Egyptian Court of Ibn Battuta Mall at 9.30 last night, 37-year old Latifa M. never imagined that she would come face to face with pop icon Michael Jackson, who walked in dressed in a T-shirt and trousers, with his head covered with the Emirati women�s traditional head scarf Sheila.

The Tunisian, who is a teacher in a private school in Dubai, screamed in shock and ran out of the ladies room when she realised that the woman-like person was a man. She went back in to photograph the pop singer with her mobile phone, while he was busy fixing his make up.

This time it was the turn of Michael Jackson who ran after the Ajman-based teacher, to retrieve the pictures. The scene attracted the security of the mall, who tried to take the phone from Latifa, but she refused and asked for compensation, while the two women accompanying Jackson tried to convince her to sit in private and settle the issue.

Wary of this suggestion, the teacher called the police. Colonel Abdul Jalil Al Mehdi, Deputy Director of the Preventive Security Department of Dubai Police, took the matter in his hands and tried to solve the issue, while Jackson left it to his companions to explain who he is and solve the matter.

While Latifa insisted on compensation, Jackson flatly refused to pay up. The police informed Latifa that the UAE laws do not entitle her to any financial gain from the situation and they convinced her to hand over the mobile, which she did after erasing the photos for the fear of being penalised.

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle.asp?xfile=data/theuae/2005/November/theuae_November275.xml&section=theuae

[Bindair Dundat]

[spicegirl]

Something similar also appeared in the Gulf News a couple of days ago - though with no mention of the unfortunate Latifa M. According to the Gulf News, he was wearing not only a shaila, but also an abaya, as recounted by a Filipina shop assistant. He was apparently in the company of one of his close friends, some high-profile Emirati sportsman.

If the stories are true, why wasn't he immediately arrested? Why didn't his good chum tell him what happens to men who hang out in women's toilets in the UAE? Commonly, non-national men who do this kind of thing are immediately deported. This man is a serious weirdo, but being weird doesn't usually put you above the law, except in this wacko's case (constantly, it seems).

Maybe none of it's true - you know how much gossip and story-telling there is around here. Mind you, in the case of the King of Pop, I'd believe anything. Wish I'd been there ......... he'd have been on the receiving end of more direct action than taking a photo. And he wouldn't have been able to run after me, either.

[peterpan13]

and just last week Elvis was seen leaving the building at the Burg al Arab Hotel!!!