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Jailed R. Kelly ‘doesn’t have any money’ for bail

A Chicago judge has set R&B singer R. Kelly’s bond at $US1 million ($A1.4 million) for the four cases of criminal sexual abuse levelled against him.

The singer, 52, must stump up $100,000 to make bail – but that might be difficult, according to his lawyer, Steve Greenberg.

CNN reported that Kelly had not posted the bail by late Sunday (Chicago time) because he had difficulty in getting $100,000 on a weekend and also because he owed $169,000 in child support.

But Mr Greenberg said the singer “really doesn’t have any money at this point” due to “mismanagement … hangers-on and bad deals”.

“He’s trying to get it together,” Mr Greenberg told CNN. “He doesn’t have it sitting in the bank.”

However, he said he expected Kelly would be able to post the bail in coming days.

r kelly jail bail

R. Kelly’s lawyer, Steve Greenberg. Photo: Getty

Kelly appeared at the Leighton Criminal Court Building on Sunday wearing a black hoodie and jeans, according to the Chicago Sun Times, “and a frown that creased his face”.

He stared at the ground as Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Gonzalez read a statement of evidence against him in four cases of alleged sexual abuse between 1998 and 2010.

The alleged victims – three of whom were minors – were identified only by their initials in the press conferences and legal documents.

If he posts the bond for his release, Kelly will be ordered to surrender his passport and not contact anyone under 18.

The next court date in the case is scheduled for Monday (Chicago time), at which Kelly will make a plea and be assigned a judge.

At a media conference following the hearing, Cook County State Attorney Kimberly Fox read details and graphic descriptions of the charges against the singer.

They involve a girl who met Kelly at a restaurant while celebrating her 16th birthday; a hairdresser he attempted to force to perform oral sex; a girl he met outside his 2008 child-pornography trial; and another forced to watch a videotape of him having sex with a girl who said on the tape she was 14.

The documents claim to have DNA evidence connecting Kelly to the incidents.

“I think all the women are lying,” Mr Greenberg said.

“Mr Kelly is strong, he’s got a lot of support and he’s going to be vindicated on all these charges – one by one, if it has to be.”

The indictment came just days after sex tape reportedly surfaced featuring Kelly engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl, according to CNN and the New Yorker.

Kelly has multiple allegations of sexual misconduct against him dating back 25 years, although he has never been convicted.

Kelly has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

-with AAP

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