CHICAGO (CelebrityAccess) — Embattled R&B artist R. Kelly was absent from a scheduled court date on Thursday with prosecutors claiming her “refused transport” from detention at a federal jail.
According to NBC Chicago, the routine hearing which was intended to provide a presiding judge with updates on bail issues and evidence in the case, went on without Kelly.
However, Cook County Judge Lawrence Flood was keenly interested in where Kelly was during the proceedings.
“The defendant was to be brought to court today. That was all worked out. The sheriffs were going to be bringing him over,” Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney Jennifer Gonzalez told the judge when questioned about his absence.
“As I understand it, he refused transport and so that is why the defendant is not before your honor today,” Gonzales added, according to NBC.
According to NBC, Defense lawyer Steve Greenberg disputed Gonzalez’s characterization of Kelly’s absence, noting that it was not “100-percent true” but he declined to elaborate.
“I don’t want to discuss matters that I discussed with the U.S. Marshals Service in open court,” Greenberg told the court, per NBC. “Suffice it to say, the Marshal Service says that moving Mr. Kelly is a large undertaking.”
