Michael Jackson cannot be linked directly to a flurry of telephone activity in the aftermath of Martin Bashir’s damaging documentary, it emerged today.

One of Michael Jackson’s top aides cashed two cheques worth $1.5m in the weeks after his young accuser and family claim they were held captive and were to be whisked abroad, it emerged today.

A Michael Jackson associate cashed two big cheques in early 2003 on an account controlled by him and Jackson, a bank official testified today as prosecutors neared the end of their presentation.