JAKARTA - Singer R. Kelly is under surveillance for suicide in prison. He reportedly experienced emotional stress after receiving a 30-year sentence in prison for sex trafficking cases.
Court documents show R. Kelly was monitored for suicide after undergoing a psychological examination. Moreover, he will face court for child pornography cases in the future.
But Kelly's attorney, Jennifer Bonjean, considers this suicide surveillance unnecessary.
"The irony of putting someone on suicide surveillance when they have no suicidal tendencies is to cause harm," Jennifer Bonjean said, citing CNN today, Monday, July 4.
Bonjean claims he was told by prosecutors that his client was placed under surveillance because he was famous.
“This is punishment for being famous. And frankly it was terrible. Putting someone under suicidal surveillance in such conditions is cruel and unusual when they don't need it," Bonjean explained.
Federal prosecutors denied the placement was intentional. They said this action was done for the singer's safety.
"He (R. Kelly) is a sex offender who will spend three decades in prison. Going forward he will face trial for pornography," Melanie Speight said on behalf of federal prosecutors.
R. Kelly has been imprisoned since 2019 for several cases such as sexual abuse, pornography, grooming, prostitution, and child trafficking. New York district attorneys allege R. Kelly used his celebrity status to target minors.
R. Kelly is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center, New York and sentenced to 30 years in prison and a fine of $100,000.
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