US stops sale of MJ’s glove to Minister Obiang

MBABANE – Equatorial Guniea Minister Teodorin Nguema Obiang Mangue has bought the white gem-encrusted glove of the late Michael Jackson.

However, the United States Government has gone to court to stop the glove falling into Teodorin’s hands. Teodorin is the son of Equatorial Guinea President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo and has visited Swaziland a number of times. He was the King’s guest during the 2011 Reed Dance Ceremony and it was during that visit that over E2 million was stolen from his hotel room.

The police later arrested a suspect who is presently behind bars. Teodorin was also part of his father’s delegation when he came to Swaziland on a State visit. It was after that visit that police officers from Equatorial Guinea came to Swaziland for training and they are still undergoing that exercise.

According to Sky News, the US Government believes that Teodorin allegedly used ‘dirty money’ to purchase Jackson’s coveted glove.  It is reported that Teodorin bought the glove three years ago, when he purchased a number of items from Michael Jackson’s estate.
Sky News wrote: “The latest hearing in the 28-month-old case – ‘United States of America v One White Crystal-Covered ‘Bad Tour’ Glove and Other Michael Jackson Memorabilia’ - will be heard in a Los Angeles courtroom on Monday.”

In April 2012, a California judge is reported to have thrown out the US Government’s case, saying it had failed to prove that Teodorin had allegedly amassed his fortune by illegal means in Equatorial Guinea, where he had never been charged with any crime. The US has now been allowed to file an amended version of its complaint.

Teodorin’s lawyers are said to have argued in a brief filed last month that the US still has no grounds to retain his pop souvenirs. “The government still has not identified a single victim of extortion or bribery,” the papers said. “In short, all that the government has is evidence that (the) Claimant spent money. Where the money came from is a matter of pure speculation.”

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