San Francisco: Beleaguered 'King of Pop' Michael Jackson has been formally charged with seven counts of child molestation, involving "special allegations" that could make him ineligible for parole and significantly increase jail time.

Santa Barbara prosecutor Thomas Sneddon at a jam-packed briefing told reporters yesterday (Dec 18, 2003) that Jackson has been charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of giving alcohol to a boy who was an overnight guest at the pop star's Neverland ranch with the intent of committing a crime.

The case includes several "special allegations" about Jackson's behaviour that could make him ineligible for parole and significantly increase jail time if convicted, Sneddon was quoted as saying by 'The New York Times'.

The felony child molesting charges alone could subject Jackson to 20 years in prison.

According to the three-page complaint, Jackson "wilfully, unlawfully and lewdly committed a lewd and lascivious act upon the body and certain parts and members" of the child "with the intent of arousing, appealing to and gratifying the lust, passion and sexual desires" of the child.

Jackson's lawyer Marg Geragos later told reporters in Los Angeles that Jackson would contest the charges "with every fibre of his soul".

Geragos said, "Anybody else who knows anything about the history of these accusers, anybody who knows anything about the history of the investigations and the axes they have to grind know that these charges are not only categorically untrue, but they are driven, driven by two things: money and revenge."

Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, in a statement called the charges "totally untrue, malicious and motivated by pure greed and revenge", the report said.

"Our family totally supports Jackson," the statement said adding, "We proudly stand next to Michael who we know could never commit any of the acts he is accused of."

The entertainer's brother Jermaine, meanwhile, claimed that the singer was locked in a toilet for 30 minutes during his arrest and that his shoulder was dislocated when he was handcuffed.

"They handcuffed him behind his back and now we understand that his shoulder was dislocated and he is bruised on his arms, Jermaine told CNN's Larry King Live.

PTI