JACKO LIED OVER INJURIES

[Talon]

JACKO LIED OVER INJURIES

Michael Jackson's claims that he was manhandled and injured during his arrest on child abuse charges were false, according to a report.

An investigation by the California Attorney General and the state's Bureau of Investigation found Jackson was not injured during his arrest on November 19 last year.

"After interviewing 163 witnesses and expending an excess of 2,500 investigative hours, the California Bureau of Investigation determined that Mr Jackson was not injured at the hands of Santa Barbara Sheriffs Department personnel," Santa Barbara Sheriff Jim Anderson said.

"The investigation also concluded there was no criminal conduct on the part of Sheriffs Department personnel during their contact with Mr Jackson."

But the sheriff declined to say whether he would now pursue criminal charges against Jackson for making the allegations.

Anderson said he was not allowed to add any more because of a strict gag order surrounding Jackson's child molestation case.

Jackson claimed during an interview broadcast on the American CBS television network in December that his shoulder had been dislocated and his wrists and back hurt when his hands were cuffed behind his back when he turned himself in for arrest.

The 45-year-old has pleaded innocent to a 10-count indictment that includes charges of child molestation, giving alcohol to a minor, as well as conspiracies to kidnap, illegally imprison and extort his alleged victim.

He is free on $3m bail.

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