Michael Jackson's sister Latoya said on Wednesday (December 8) she could no longer remain a silent collaborator with her pop superstar brother's "crimes against small innocent children".

Latoya, also a singer, said she had to talk about accusations of sexual molestation charged at her brother by a 13-year-old boy.

Latoya said: "If I remain silent, then that means that I feel the guilt and humiliation that these children are feeling and I think it's very wrong." Latoya, who spok Read more

Michael Jackson's sister Latoya said on Wednesday (December 8) she could no longer remain a silent collaborator with her pop superstar brother's "crimes against small innocent children".

Latoya, also a singer, said she had to talk about accusations of sexual molestation charged at her brother by a 13-year-old boy.

Latoya said: "If I remain silent, then that means that I feel the guilt and humiliation that these children are feeling and I think it's very wrong." Latoya, who spoke at a press conference at a Tel Aviv hotel, said this was the first time she had decided to speak out about her brother, adding: "I never wanted to speak about it." "I have seen cheques payable to the parents of these children," Latoya said, "and I don't know if these children were apparently bought through the parents by Michael or not, but I have seen these cheques and I've seen these cheques through my mother.

"But I think it's sad because I am a victim myself and I know what it feels like and these kids are going to be scarred for the rest of their life and I don't want to see any more innocent small children being affected this way," Latoya said.

The singer added: "I love Michael very dearly but I feel even more sorry for these children because they don't have a life any more.

"Now you stop and you think for one second," she told reporters, "and you tell me, what 35-year-old man is going to take a little boy and stay with him for 30 days and take another boy and stay with him for five days in a room and never leave the room?" Latoya said she too had been a victim of child molestation and this had affected her marriage.

"I have been hurt by it too. My father molested me sexually and I don't like it. I don't like the way it feels to this day and my husband can vouch for this. I will not have a relationship with him because of that. I love him dearly but I cannot.

Latoya's husband, Jack Gordon, was asked if he feared for the lives of Latoya and himself. He replied that he had alerted both a private investigator and a lawyer of the possibility, adding: "there have been two major kidnap attempts on Latoya. They were paid and financed by Michael Jackson." Latoya said: "We travel with a body guard with us." In August 1993, Gordon was quoted by a British newspaper as saying Latoya had warned her brother months ago to end his friendships with young boys or risk damaging his career.

Michael Jackson, who has denied the accusations of sexual molestation, is being treated for addiction to painkillers at a secret location in Europe. Close