MICHAEL Jackson's family hatched a secret escape plan for the pop star to flee the US if he had been convicted of child abuse in 2005, because he "wouldn't survive prison".

His brother Jermaine Jackson revealed the plot in 2011 to have a private jet on standby for him to fly to Bahrain if the court case didn't go his way.

5 Michael Jackson's family had a secret plot to fly him to Bahrain in 2005 if he had been convicted of child abuse Credit: Corbis - Getty

5 Michael's brother Jermaine Jackson revealed the 'Plan B' in 2011 Credit: Getty - Contributor

The singer was unaware of the "Plan B" but Jermaine is sure he would have agreed to it in a "heartbeat" to avoid jail.

Bahrain has no extradition treaty with the US, meaning the country has no obligation to surrender an alleged criminal.

Jermaine told The Times Magazine: "If they were going to sit and crucify my brother for something that he didn't do, America deserves us not to come back here."

Adding: "At the end of the day, this is supposed to be the land of the brave, home of the free, democracy, freedom of speech.

"The way they were treating him, none of that existed. Why should he go to jail for something he didn't do?"

JACKSON FAMILY'S 'PLAN B'

The family's plot, dubbed "Plan B", was to sneak Michael from his Neverland estate when his defence suggested the verdict would go against him.

They had a private jet at the ready to fly him to the Middle East, and the family was ready to go with him.

In his book, You Are Not Alone: Michael Through A Brother's Eyes, Jermaine said his whole family were willing to give up their American citizenship to move to Bahrain with him.

Michael ended up being acquitted of the charges.

Michael Jackson told Martin Bashir that sharing his bed with kids was a ‘beautiful thing’ and critics were 'ignorant'

This is supposed to be the land of the brave, home of the free, democracy, freedom of speech Jermaine Jackson

He was accused of molesting 13-year-old cancer patient, Gavin Arviso.

The singer went to Bahrain anyway several months later, before moving to London and returning to the US.

He died on June 25, 2009 from an overdose of prescription painkillers.

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Fresh allegations of child abuse have come to light since the documentary Leaving Neverland premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 25, 2019.

The documentary details claims from Wade Robson, a choreographer who says Jackson began abusing him when he was 7, and James Safechuck, a former child actor who says the singer began molesting him when he was 10.

The documentary was branded a “horror film” after the four-hour film's debut revealed gruesome accounts from two of Jacko's alleged victims who are now in their 30s.

5 Michael Jackson departs with his brother Jermaine Jackson and sister LaToya Jackson from Santa Barbara County Superior Court 05 March 2005 Credit: AFP

5 Michael's family were ready to give up their American citizenship and move to Bahrain Credit: AP:Associated Press

5 A 1972 picture of The Jackson Five. They are (clockwise from top): Tito, Jermaine, Michael, Randy, Marlon and Jackie Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Michael Jackson 'never abused kids' and was a 'child himself' pal Brigitte Nielsen claims

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