A judge in Chicago has issued R. Kelly with a $1 million bond over charges that he sexually abused four women, including three teenagers, imposing strict conditions on the singer.
The 52-year-old turned himself in to police overnight, after being charged with ten counts of aggravated sexual abuse, with the alleged incidents dating back as far as 1998.
The $1 million bond represents $250,000 for each of the alleged victims, and the singer, real name Robert Kelly, will be required to post $100,000 in order to be released before his trial.
Once released, he will be required to abide by strict conditions. Per reports in E! News, he will be required to surrender his passport, and be forbidden from possessing firearms.
He will also be forbidden from contacting any of the alleged victims or witnesses involved in the trial, and anyone under the age of 18.
Kelly reportedly showed no emotion as the prosecutor read out the charges against him, each of them carrying a maximum of ten years behind bars.
Lawyer Steve Greenberg said that the singer maintains his innocence and that the women accusing him of sexual abuse are lying. He added:
“Mr. Kelly, contrary to his song, doesn’t like to fly … He’s a rock star, he doesn’t have to have nonconsensual sex. We’re going to look at the evidence and see where it takes us.”
He is due to face court again early next week.
