Michael Jackson ‘designer’ faces wait for fraud trial
A fashion designer who claimed to own a perfume created by Michael Jackson must wait another eight months to stand trial for fraud and theft of a Bentley convertible.
HRH Arfaq, 52, who changed his name from Arfaq Hussain, claimed he had an agreement with the Brunei Royal Family to buy 200 Ghost bags in a deal worth £48 million.
Arfaq describes himself as a ‘reclusive genius’ and claims he designed some of Jackson’s most memorable clothes.
He is accused of two counts of fraud and the theft of a Bentley convertible belonging to Russian socialite Natalia Rotenberg.
It is alleged that between 2017 and 2018, Arfaq defrauded Ms Rotenberg, by falsely claiming he was entitled to £150,000 for ‘developing her brand’.
Ms Rotenberg is the ex-wife of Vladimir Putin’s former billionaire judo partner Arkady Rotenberg and the current wife of Tigran Arzakantsyan, the former deputy of the National Assembly of Armenia.
He allegedly persuaded her he was in the process of producing a ‘Natalia Rotenberg branded pen’ with luxury pen brand Montegrappa.
Arfaq also claimed he had ordered a fibre optic folding roof system for Ms Rotenberg’s Bentley Convertible.
He is also charged with defrauding Deborah Martinelli Bonavia, a high-end designer, between 2018 and 2020.
It is alleged that Arfaq sold Ms Bonavia a fragrance which he claimed was made by Michael Jackson.
Arfaq was due to stand trial this week with solicitor Graham Atkins, 56, but Judge Noel Lucas KC, adjourned the trial until 24 July next year for legal reasons.
Atkins, a former partner at law firm Atkins Thomson, denies four counts of making an article for use in fraud, alleging he created letters and an affidavit containing misleading assertions about Arfaq and Michael Jackson fragrance.
Arfaq, of Fern Close, Batley, Yorkshire and Atkins, of Fleet Street, central London, remain on conditional bail ahead of their new trial date at Wood Green Crown Court on 24 July 2023.
On his website, Arfaq claims to have been ‘personally appointed by Michael Jackson to become ‘Head of Personal Management’.
He also claims to have ‘devoted hundreds of hours to the creation of some of Michael’s most memorable pieces’.
Among these ‘memorable pieces’ Arfaq claims to have created Jackson’s ‘Healing Hands’ glove and iconic black suede slippers.
He attended court this week wearing a suit and sparkly white trainers.
