Do friends of R. Kelly want to silence his alleged victim? Three possible accomplices have now been brought to justice.
Three arrests, three charges – and all of them are linked to the case of the disgraced singer R. Kelly, 53. As the US Department of Justice of the eastern borough of New York announced, three alleged acquaintances of the musician have been arrested and charged. They are accused of harassing, blackmailing, or even threatening witnesses in the criminal case against R. Kelly.
One of the alleged victims was offered $ 500,000 to stop cooperation with the prosecutor, they say. Another is said to have been blackmailed with the threat of publishing nude photos. And in Florida, an off-road vehicle was allegedly set on fire that was parked in front of another witness's house.
That's what R. Kelly's lawyer says
Prosecutors said that "illegal manipulation (…) through threats of violence, intimidation, damage to property or payments to buy the silence of a potential witness" would not be tolerated. Kelly's attorney said, meanwhile, the US portal "TMZ": "There is no doubt that Robert Kelly had nothing to do with any of these alleged actions of the accused. He has not tried to intimidate anyone, nor has he encouraged anyone else to do so. He is in no way involved . "