- R. Kelly, an American R&B superstar, has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for sexually assaulting his young followers.
- Victims included minors, whom he harassed by misusing his superstardom.
- In a sex trafficking trial last year, a New York jury convicted the 55-year-old musician, actual name Robert Sylvester Kelly, guilty of all charges.
Racketeering based on sexual exploitation of young fans, abduction, forced labour, and breaches of the Mann Act, which prohibits the transportation of individuals for the purpose of prostitution or any other immoral reason, were among the allegations.
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Several victims spoke in court about how the disgraced musician exploited his celebrity to lure them in and then used them for his own sexual enjoyment.
“These victims were expendable to you,” Judge Anna Donnelly said before handing down the punishment, which includes a $100,000 fine.
“You taught them that love is captivity, brutality, and humiliation,” the judge said to Kelly.
When the punishment was read out, the disgraced singer, who was wearing black spectacles and a Khaki shirt, did not respond.
However, the Grammy winner has disputed the claims and has opted to fight his verdict.
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The punishment follows a six-week trial that was previously delayed owing to the coronavirus outbreak.
Outside the court, the survivors welcomed the judgement and hailed the country’s justice system.
