R. Kelly remains in prison. In late March, the singer's lawyers had filed an appeal to demand his release due to the increased risk of contracting the Covid-19 in prison. The request was denied Tuesday by a federal judge in New York.
Read also: After the release of 6ix9ine for covid-19, Bill Cosby and R. Kelly request the same treatment
"The accused is currently in detention due to the risk of absconding or attempts to obstruct, threaten or intimidate potential witnesses , " said US judge Ann Donnelly. At the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago where R. Kelly is incarcerated, three staff members tested positive for Covid-19, but not a single inmate. Federal prosecutors said the prison facilities had taken steps to prevent the spread of the virus. Therefore, a "generalized risk" that a prisoner could contract the virus does not justify the release of the artist.
Read also: Rapper 6ix9ine to be released from prison due to coronavirus
Indicted for sexual assault, forcible confinement and child pornography last July, R. Kelly was placed in pre-trial detention pending his trial scheduled for this summer. In France, a similar situation had the same outcome. The rapper MHD, positive for coronavirus, was refused his request for release on Wednesday by the Paris Court of Appeal.
If their release requests were denied, this was not the case for Takeshi 6ix9ine. The 23-year-old rapper has been placed in house arrest for the last four months of his sentence this weekend. Subject to asthma, he asked to be released to avoid being too exposed to the coronavirus. Condemned for having been involved in the New York Bloods gang, he had not hesitated to sell his former friends to ease his sentence. The Bloods have sworn revenge.