Officials have tightened Michael Jackson’s leash again, restricting his travel by confiscating his passport. The singer surrendered it Tuesday as previously arranged.
Jackson had also surrendered his passport in November as a condition of his bail, which was set at $3 million because he was considered a flight risk due to his wealth and means.
However, he requested that prosecutors give him back his passport so he could travel to England for the holidays, between December 20 and January 6, to fulfill two contractual obligations. Santa Barbara County District Attorney Tom Sneddon granted the request “this time only” on December 18, the day Jackson was formally charged, even though Jackson’s lawyer Mark Geragos provided no proof of those contracts.
Two days after returning Jackson’s passport, Sneddon asked that it be returned if the promotional trip had been canceled as rumored. Instead of going to the U.K. for the holidays, Jackson held a gathering at Neverland and then granted an interview with “60 Minutes” in Los Angeles, apparently never leaving the country.
The singer remains free on bail after being charged with seven counts of child molestation and two counts of administering an intoxicating agent to commit the molestation. His arraignment is scheduled for January 16.
