R Kelly allegations: Singer remains in jail after judge sets $1m bond over sexual abuse charges

R&B singer is expected to appear in court today (Monday 25 February)

R Kelly spent another night in jail on Sunday after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

The disgraced R&B singer, who denies all of the allegations against him, surrendered to Chicago police on Friday 22 after being accused of “sexual penetration” of multiple women “at least 13 years of age but under 17 years of age”. The legal age of consent in Illinois is 17 years old.

Kelly’s attorney Brian Nix has now told Rolling Stone that Kelly is “disappointed by the unsubstantiated allegations of behaviour that portrays him as a monster by people with a pecuniary motive”.

“He believes that the scripted documentary by Lifetime [Surviving R Kelly] has created collusion between and amongst female friends who have been converted to victims,” he added.

“The dissemination of information through media and social outlets have created an environment of possible collusion amongst female acquaintances who have been mistakenly coached to become victims.”

It is widely believed that Surviving R Kelly helped spark an investigation into the multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against R Kelly.

The Lifetime docuseries, which premiered in January this year, featured interviews with numerous women who claimed to be victims of Kelly’s physical, sexual and psychological abuse.

Days after its debut, Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx urged potential victims to “please come forward”.

“We need actual witnesses and victims to have the courage to tell their stories,” she said in a press conference. “If they have concerns about further victimisation of others, it becomes necessary to have the courage to come forward and tell what happened. We cannot do anything related to these allegations without the cooperation of these victims.”

Kelly’s bond has been set at $1m. His legal team said he is having trouble coming up with the money. He is scheduled to appear in court today (Monday).