Estefan's husband faces threat claim

Emilio Estefan (centre) is married to the singer Gloria (left)

A Venezuelan actor has accused Miami music producer Emilio Estefan Jr of threatening him and making unwanted sexual advances.

Juan Carlos Diaz says that Estefan - husband to singer Gloria Estefan - threatened him and "touched him in an unwanted manner" at a gym in October 2001.

Mr Diaz's attempts to gain a restraining order against Mr Estefan and his bodyguard were denied on Monday but a hearing was scheduled for 28 January.

Mr Estefan has denied the accusations and described Mr Diaz as an unwanted trespasser.

Because Mr Estefan is a celebrity he is an easy target

John Hogan, attorney for Emilio Estefan

Mr Diaz, a soap opera actor who also appeared in the 2000 film Escape from Cuba, said that Mr Estefan had been asking him for sexual favours for two years.

He added that, at the time of the alleged incident, Mr Estefan's approaches went too far.

"It reached to the point that it went over the line and so that's when I didn't like the way he was acting, asking for sexual favours and threatening," Mr Diaz told ABC TV News.

'Misguided'

Mr Estefan's attorney John Hogan refuted the accusations against his client saying that Mr Diaz was trying to benefit from his relationship with Mr Estefan.

"Because Mr Estefan is a celebrity he is an easy target for misguided individuals to attempt to benefit from the relationship with celebrities," Mr Hogan told ABC TV News.

Gloria Estefan has had multiple hits

"Mr Estefan is a community leader, a family man, a devoted father and husband.

"He is enormously upset and offended by Mr Diaz's unfounded allegation and scandalous remarks."

Police reports show that Mr Diaz has been given two trespassing warnings in the past.

One came after he appeared uninvited at a new year's party at the Estefan's mansion.

A statement issued by Mr Estefan's production company, Estefan Enterprises, said the couple intended "to take appropriate legal action against Mr Diaz".

Grammy award-winning singer Gloria Estefan is famous for hits such as Anything For You, Rhythm is Gonna Get You and Can't Stay Away From You.

Emilio Estefan is also a multiple Grammy award winner and a respected member of the Latin-American music community.

The couple met in 1975 at a wedding when he invited her to sing for his band The Latin Boys.

She later joined the band and its name changed to the Miami Sound Machine. The couple married in 1979.