(CNN)R. Kelly was placed under suicide surveillance in a federal detention center in New York. His lawyer said on Friday that he was sentenced to 30 years in prison for swaying and sexual trafficking this week.
But the shameful R&B singer is not suicide, lawyer Jennifer Bonjan tells CNN that she believes she is being put under suicide surveillance. He added that he was afraid.
"The irony of putting someone under suicide surveillance when you're not committing suicide is that it actually causes more harm," Bonjan said.
Kelly, 55, was put under suicide surveillance because he was well known, Bonjan said he was told by a prosecutor who spoke with prison officials. CNN is seeking confirmation from the prosecutor and the prison bureau.
"It's a punishment for being well-known, and frankly, it's scary," she said. "Puting someone under suicide surveillance in such a situation is cruel and unusual when they don't need it."
Bonjan was sentenced Wednesday. After being taken back to the Federal Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, she asked Kelly to send an email, but she said she didn't receive the email. She had not received an answer from the detention center about his position until the prosecutor requested information from the facility, Bonjan added.
The prosecutor asked the judge to sentence Kelly to more than 25 years in prison, but his lawyer demanded less than 10 years.
