Detectives are investigating a new allegation of child abuse against Michael Jackson.

Los Angeles Police say it involves a person who claims to have been victimised in the late 1980s.

The star has denied child molestation charges involving another alleged victim in Santa Barbara County.

The Los Angeles County district attorney’s office asked the LAPD to investigate the new allegation a month ago, said Mary Grady, commander of the department’s public information office.

Jackson’s lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said: “We have never been informed by the LAPD of any investigation that they are conducting of Michael Jackson.

“I would point out that since I have been involved in this case I have addressed literally dozens of completely baseless rumours on a daily basis, and this appears to be just another one of them.”

The allegations are being investigated by the Child Protective Section of the department’s Juvenile Division. Ms Grady declined to elaborate on such details as the age or sex of the alleged victim. Los Angeles district attorney’s spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons also declined comment.

Also yesterday, an appeals court rejected a request by several news agencies to lift a gag order placed on the parties by the judge in the Santa Barbara case.

Jackson was charged by the Santa Barbara district attorney late last year with committing lewd or lascivious acts upon a child and administering an intoxicating agent to the child. He has pleaded innocent and a pre-trial hearing is scheduled for April 30.

Credit: Ananova