Thomas Rinnert

Chief Executive of Central Asian Logistics.

Dieter Wiesner

Rinnert is a former partner of Michael Jackson's manager Dieter Wiesner.

Another investor, Thomas Rinnert, who now runs an air cargo company, has nothing but disdain for his former partner.

Rinnert, who said he set up the initial Mystery Drink meetings for Wiesner with Sony’s merchandising office in London, said he lost $120,000 of his own money.

"Dieter will take Michael's money," said Rinnert. "He is a snake. He's very dangerous. He's an unhuman, greedy, unscrupulous person. He is dangerous. Michael Jackson is his victim."

Rinnert also said that during the time he knew Wiesner, the latter man invited him several times to sex clubs he owned.

Equatorial Guinea

One of Rinnert's employees' Gerhard Merz, died in Equatorial Guinea in 2004 after becoming embroiled in a failed coup attempt.

CAL chief executive, Thomas Rinnerd, speaking in a telephone interview, denied any connection between his Frankfurt-based company and the alleged coup conspirators. "The Armenian pilots are 200 percent innocent. So are Mr. Merz and our company," he said. He added that the Armenian cargo jet had been hired by CAL to ship various supplies to oil companies operating in the African country.