R. Kelly Sues Prison For Placing Him On Suicide Watch

R. Kelly is suing the New York prison he's in for placing him on suicide watch, his lawyers have confirmed.

Kelly was similarly placed on suicide watch following the guilty verdict, and attorney Jennifer Bonjean has since spoken out against the cautionary measure, saying it's being used as 'punishment for being high-profile'.

The lawsuit claims that his legal team phoned into the facility after his sentencing and that staff 'laughed and were highly unprofessional'.

It also alleges: "MDC-Brooklyn has a policy of punishing high profile inmates by placing them under the harsh conditions of suicide watch even though they are not suicidal."

Bonjean spoke about the matter on Twitter, writing: "R. Kelly is not suicidal. He was in fine spirits after his sentencing hearing and ready to fight his appeal.

"Placing him on suicide watch was punitive conduct by the ⁦@BureauOfPrisons."

"My partner and I spoke with Mr. Kelly following his sentencing, he expressed that he was mentally fine, was behaving appropriately and was eager to pursue his appeal."

LADbible has contacted MDC Brooklyn for further comment.

During Kelly's September trial, several of his accusers testified in detail, alleging that he subjected them to perverse and sadistic behaviours when they were underage. 

Alongside the testimonies, jurors were shown homemade videos of Kelly engaging in sexual acts that prosecutors said were not consensual. 

Assistant US Attorney Maria Cruz Melendez said in court that the singer was a serial abuser who ‘maintained control over these victims using every trick in the predator handbook’.

Although his legal team requested that Kelly be given a lighter sentence of 10 years due to trauma he suffered in his childhood, Judge Ann Donnelly said 'the public has to be protected from behaviours like this' during his sentencing hearing last week.

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