Disgraced American singer R Kelly was rushed to hospital last week after reportedly overdosing on anxiety medication while serving time in a North Carolina prison.
His lawyers have alleged that prison staff deliberately gave him an excessive dose, leading to a medical emergency.
The 57-year-old artiste, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is serving a 30-year sentence for racketeering and sex crimes, following convictions in New York and Chicago courts.
He was placed in solitary confinement on June 10, days before the overdose occurred.
His legal team claimed the isolation was in response to an earlier complaint in which Kelly accused prison officials of planning to have him murdered.
According to a court filing, on June 13, the singer was instructed to take medication that exceeded his usual dose.
Shortly after, he became dizzy, lost consciousness, and was taken to Duke University Hospital.
Doctors reportedly discovered blood clots in his legs, but Kelly was allegedly denied surgery and returned to prison a few days later.
Kelly’s attorneys claimed that this was not the first time he has been mistreated while in custody.
They say he has been refused proper medical treatment for his health issues and that he remains at risk due to alleged hostility from staff.
The legal filing referenced a statement by a terminally ill inmate who alleged that prison officials once asked him to assassinate Kelly in exchange for freedom.
The inmate, identified as a member of a white supremacist gang, later changed his mind and disclosed the plan to Kelly.
Another alleged plot involving a different gang member was said to have emerged in June.
Despite the severity of the claims, federal authorities have not made any public comments, citing ongoing legal matters.
Kelly’s lawyers are now requesting that he be placed under house arrest and have reportedly approached contacts close to former President Donald Trump in pursuit of a pardon.
Kelly, who has been in custody since 2019, will not be eligible for release until 2045, when he will be 78 years old.
He was convicted for a long history of abuse involving underage girls, with evidence presented in court including victim testimonies, videos, and DNA.
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