" IT'S A SECRET, BETWEEN MICHAEL AND ME "

THOME " IT 'S A SECRET BETWEEN MICHAEL AND ME " ****************************************************

Dr. Tohme Tohme, a former Michael Jackson financial advisor,
is the man who turned over more than $5 million of Michael
Jackson's money to the late pop star's estate, ABC News has
learned.

Dr. Tohme Tohme, inset, was an advisor to Michael Jackson
who held $5.5 million of "secret" money for the pop star.

Tohme, a former financial advisor to Jackson, did not return
calls from ABC News but told the Associated Press that

the money had been "a secret between Michael and me."

Administrators of Jackson's estate said in court papers
filed Friday that they recovered $5.5 million in cash
from "one of Michael Jackson's former financial advisers"
and also recovered "substantial amounts of tangible
personal property," not necessarily from the same
person. But Tohme said the "was not recovered."

"I had the money and I gave it to them.

It was a secret between Michael and me," he said.

Tohme said the money came from recording residuals and was
earmarked by Jackson for the purchase of what was to be his
"dream home" in Las Vegas. He told the AP that he was in
negotiations for the home when Jackson died.

"He said, 'Don't tell anyone about this money,'" Tohme said.

"But when he passed away I told them I had this money,
and I gave it to them." Tohme also turned over items from
the pop star's Neverland estate that were once scheduled
to be auctioned. Jackson estate administrators, attorney
John Branca and music executive John McClain, claim
Jackson's estate is worth more than $500 million and
that they are making business deals that could bring
in tens of millions more dollars that will benefit
Jackson's heirs. The recovered millions were announced
as Branca and McClain requested a "family allowance"
be given to Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, and
Jackson's three children, for whom she is temporary
guardian, "in order to ensure that the minor children's
needs for maintenance and support are met."




http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/MichaelJackson/story?id=8172668&page=1