R&B Singer/Songwriter R. Kelly’s legal battles have stretched beyond the borders of the United States into Africa.

This time, Kelly has been accused of allegedly swindling thousands of dollars from investors on a non-existent tour.

Authorities in South Africa want to question 41-year-old Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, about his involvement in an alleged tour scam. Kelly is suspected of profiting $130,000 despite failing to perform on the tour.

The scam reportedly involves a local promoter who allegedly swindled thousands of dollars from investors by promising profits of a nonexistent Kelly tour in 2005. The promoter, Busiswe Zakwe, told authorities she deposited $130,000 in Kelly’s bank account, The Times of Johannesburg reported.

A law enforcement official told The Times that authorities have a deposit slip proving the transaction took place and confirmed the account belongs to the Chicago-born singer.

The Wall Street Journal published the following statement about the issue from Kelly’s representatives:

“There is absolutely no truth to the reports that R. Kelly received money from a South African woman accused of swindling investors by convincing them to invest in a non-existent R. Kelly tour in 2005. Mr. Kelly has no knowledge of this woman, has never received any money from her, and has not been contacted by any law enforcement authorities regarding the matter. He will, of course, cooperate fully with any legitimate investigation of this matter, since he has nothing to hide.”

This is incident appears to be the next chapter in the ongoing R. Kelly legal saga. On June 6, 2002, Kelly was indicted for having sexual intercourse with his then teenaged goddaughter. The 21 indictments were later reduced to soliciting a minor for child pornography, for which he was acquitted on June 13, 2008.

According to the Sun-Times, Kelly has a history of improper behavior with minors. Three other sex suits by underage girls were settled. One of them sued him claiming that he seduced her at age 16, got her pregnant, and forced her to have an abortion. He denied any relationship with either of them, stating that the settlement was strictly to protect his emerging career.

Last month, Kelly filed a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles County Superior court naming two club promoters for allegedly using his name without permission. The suit came after the defendants allegedly promoted an event to be hosted by Kelly – an event the R&B singer says he knew nothing about.

More recently, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge ordered Kelly’s concert promoter to pay R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo $700,320 stemming from a lawsuit filed earlier this year. Ne-Yo was dropped from Kelly’s tour last year after two shows.

Will Kelly find his way out of the African scandal? If so, is there another suit just around the corner? Is the pattern of legal troubles a coincidence? You decide.

Contact The Voice magazine editor at editor@thevoicemagazine.com.
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