R. Kelly removed from suicide watch in prison
This comes as the singer tries to sue Metropolitan Detention Center
According to a letter filed by prosecutors, R. Kelly has been removed from suicide watch as of last Tuesday, July 5.
This was later confirmed by Kelly’s lawyer Jennifer Bonjean - who also stated that Kelly plans to press ahead with a lawsuit to sue the Metropolitan Detention Center.
The suit is because jail officials allegedly ordered the suicide watch straight after his June 29 sentencing "solely for punitive purposes", and because he is a "high-profile" inmate. The suit also compares his imprisonment to the recently convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell.
R. Kelly, legal name Robert Sylvester Kelly, was found guilty of sexual abuse, racketeering and human trafficking on June 29. He has been sentenced to 30 years in prison following a high-profile ongoing court case which started in 2021.
He has repeatedly denied all allegations made against him.
After sentencing Kelly was then sent to Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he currently resides.
According to the federal government’s response to his filing, Kelly alleged he was "placed on suicide watch as a form of punishment even though he was not suicidal.”
Court documents say that Kelly was put on suicide watch because the institution felt as though he met the criteria for it.
The government also argues that Kelly asked courts to micromanage custodial decisions which are normally left to the discretion of prison managers.
In addition to sexual abuse and assault charges, Kelly has also been charged with one count of racketeering to cover his crimes and eight counts of the violation of the Mann Act - a trafficking law.
Kelly faces further legal action in August when he goes on trial again for child sexual images and obstruction charges. The disgraced singer faces trial in Chicago and will soon be moved from Metropolitan Detention Center.
If you have been impacted by any of the themes covered in this article, visit Victim Support or Rape Crisis
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Aneesa Ahmed is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter
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