NEWS LITE : ROBBERY SUSPECT SUESBANK TELLER.

It just doesn't pay to be held up.

Mortimer Hetsberger, in jail in Atlantic City, N.J., pending trial on a bank robbery charge, filed a defamation and slander lawsuit against Laura Gonzalez, the teller who waited on him June 11, 1997.

The handwritten suit claims Gonzalez lied to police in her account of the holdup, causing him to face a more serious charge.

``It is clearly simple to observe that at no time at all did the man in question utter any word, whatsoever. (Gonzalez's) false allegation caused plaintiff to suffer ridicule, chastisement and prosecution of first-degree robbery, which he did not commit.''

The suit, filed last month, seeks $1.5 million in damages.

``This is ridiculous,'' Gonzalez said. ``The man who robbed me? I don't believe this. This is crazy.''

Gonzalez told police the robber threatened: ``Now, or I'll shoot.'' She said she never saw a gun but he told her he had one.

Hetsberger, 22, said he didn't talk to her at all, relying on a note, and a review of surveillance video shows as much. He said he should be charged with third-degree theft by unlawful taking when he goes to trial Oct. 5.

Hetsberger, charged with making off with $4,000 from the bank, also wrote to the prosecutor, asking that Gonzalez be held ``accountable for her crimes.''

Jagger's little girl struts fashion stage

Elizabeth Scarlett Jagger, all of 14 years old, is following mom on the catwalks.

The daughter of Mick Jagger and ex-model Jerry Hall made her runway debut last week during the Paris shows and appears to have inherited mom's long legs.

``She said she doesn't want to walk like me,'' said Hall, who appeared with Elizabeth at the show of Thierry Mugler.

Elizabeth's half sister, Jade Jagger, also modeled, and The Donald's daughter Ivanka Trump is in the business now too.

Fallen evangelist back in spotlight

Disgraced former TV evangelist Jim Bakker has returned to the pulpit.

``It's awesome to die and come back,'' Bakker told about 400 worshipers at Way of Life Church in Anaheim, where he was the guest speaker Sunday.

The former PTL Ministries leader presided over a multimillion-dollar TV ministry, resigning amid a sex and money scandal that led to a five-year prison term. The reinvigorated Bakker preached Sunday against ``the gospel of money.''

``If you fall in love with the things of this world, you will be disappointed,'' Bakker warned. He apologized for his misdeeds and once lavish lifestyle, and thanked the Lord for sending him to prison.

Bakker has joined the International Dream Center helping inner-city youths in Los Angeles.

``My flesh doesn't want to live in the inner city because I don't like earthquakes,'' Bakker said. ``Jesus told me to move to L.A.''

King of Pop's life getting new theme

``Theme Park'' might as well be Michael Jackson's middle name.

Jackson told reporters Monday in Tokyo he'll team up with a Japanese company to build three sprawling theme parks, complete with golf courses and hotels, and create a new chain of toy stores in Japan and elsewhere.

``This is going to be one of a kind,'' he said.

The joint venture - Michael Jackson Japan Co. Ltd. - is still in the process of selecting locations for the parks, two of which will be built in Japan. Prosperity Enterprise Corp. is Jackson's Japanese partner.

The company also plans to open Wonder World of Toys stores, with the first one expected to open in Japan, followed by a second location in Guam by March 1999.

``Michael himself will choose the toys,'' said Kanji Ishizumi, legal adviser to the company.

Jackson wants to build similar theme parks in Poland and Brazil.

`Angel' co-star nets divine salary deal

Della Reese is touched by her new contract.

The ``Touched by an Angel'' star settled a long-standing salary feud with CBS with a three-year contract that will boost her paycheck to about $100,000 per episode, Daily Variety said Monday, citing industry sources it didn't identify.

Reese will also star in at least two made-for-TV movies for the network as part of the deal.

``I am very, very, very, very happy,'' said Reese, who complained during a news conference last season that co-star Roma Downey earned more per episode than she did.

The deal narrows the salary gap between her and Downey, though Downey is still expected to earn a larger paycheck, Daily Variety said.

Reese wouldn't rehash the feud, saying only that ``The Man'' had taken care of her needs.

News Lite is compiled by Karen Duffy from Daily News staff and wire reports

CAPTION(S):

3 Photos

PHOTO (1) The star from U.N.C.L.E.

Illya Biederman has her shirt autographed by actor Robert Vaughn after ``The Man from U.N.C.L.E.'' star received his personal marker Monday on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

(2) Reese

(3) Bakker