Police and prosecutors on Tuesday night searched Michael Jackson's 'Neverland' ranch in California.

It was not clear what prompted the search, but reports said a 12-year-old boy had accused the pop star of abuse.

"We cannot comment on law enforcement's investigation because we do not yet know what it is about," CNN quoted a spokesman for Jackson as saying.

Nearly a decade ago Jackson, now 45, settled a lawsuit filed on behalf of a boy who accused the star of molesting him.