Smoky Robinson in criminal investigation after sexual assault claim

Motown Legend Smokey Robinson has conducted a criminal investigation in Los Angeles for allegations of sexual assault.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed it had formally investigated the charges, saying the investigation was in its “early stage.”

The investigation comes after four anonymous housekeepers filed last week’s lawsuit against the 85-year-old singer-singer, accusing him of sexual assault, false imprisonment, negligence and gender violence.

Mr. Robinson denied the allegations. His lawyer said the person behind the allegations was after the musician’s money and he welcomed the police investigation “because it’s a powerful thing to get in touch with the truth.”

“We are confident that Mr. Robinson did nothing wrong,” said attorney Christopher Frost in a statement to the BBC. “It is a desperate attempt to damage public opinion and is more like a media circus than the media circus that the plaintiff was able to create before.”

He believes that the police investigation opened because the plaintiff submitted a formal report and said the claims were “made” and intended to “undermine the good name of the musician and his wife,” which was also named in the lawsuit and alleged to contribute to the hostile work environment.

The Sheriff’s Department told the BBC in a statement that its Special Victims Agency is “actively investigating criminal charges involving William Robinson aka “Smokey Robinson.” The investigation is in an early stage and we have no further comments.”

The women filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court on May 6.

In the 27-page legal lawsuit, they claimed that several incidents date back to 2006 and accused Mr. Robinson of putting pressure on them.

The four women of Hispanic descent said they have not yet stood up because they feared losing their livelihoods, family revenge or embarrassment. Some people are concerned that the allegations may affect their immigration status.

They are seeking at least $50 million (£38 million) in compensation and a jury trial.

Mr. Robinson was the first killer of Motown, writing the first records such as Mary Wells' The Guys'My Girl.

He is both a talent scout at the record company and one of its most famous record artists, known for songs like My Tears, Shopping and The Joker’s Tears.

He has attractions in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Songwriters Hall of Fame and claims to have credit for more than 4,000 songs.

Last week, women's lawyers held a press conference after filing the lawsuit, accusing Mr. Robinson of being a “serial and sick rapist” who “must stop.”

Mr Robinson’s legal team called the event a “strange” attempt to try to treat the public as an unexpected participant in the media circus they were trying to create.

“As we respond legally, we will have more to say in the coming days, and Mr. Robinson will respond in his own words,” Frost said.

“We ask anyone in the case to retain judgment since then because the evidence has been revealed and all the actual facts of the case are unfolding.”