R. Kelly’s bail set at $1 million following aggravated sexual abuse charges

R. Kelly's bail has been set at $1 million following charges of sexual abuse.

The singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was charged this week with aggravated criminal sexual abuse against four women, three of whom were minors. A warrant for Kelly's arrest was issued on Friday morning. Soon after, the R&B star handed himself into officials. His bail has been set at $1 million, but he will have to post $100,000 to enable release. Associated Press reports that Kelly is facing 10 counts of sexual abuse, with one case involving a video tape showing the singer having sex with a 14-year-old girl. Two of the other women both met Kelly when they were 16-years-old, one of whom said she asked for the singer's autograph while he was on trial in 2008 for another tape of a similar nature. Kelly was acquitted of all charges during this trial. These new charges come after the release of the Surviving R. Kelly documentary which saw many alleged victims of the artist tell their stories publicly for the first time. The US's National Sexual Assault Hotline experienced a 27 percent increase in calls during the docu-series's initial broadcast. It is Lifetime's highest rated programme in over two years. Amidst these allegations, Kelly's daughter, Buku Abi, denounced her father and said that she was "devastated" by the allegations made against him. "I pray for all the families & woman [sic] who have been affected," she said at the time. "Trust, I have been deeply affected by all of this. However, it has been very difficult to process it all. Let alone gather all the right words to express everything I feel. "The same monster you are all confronting me about is my father. I am well aware of who and what he is. I grew up in that house." Kelly's first court date is scheduled for March 8.