Actor Smollett released pending appeal

American actor Jussie Smollett does not have to wait for the appeal in his case in prison. A judge ruled on Wednesday that the actor will be released for the time being, according to American media.

Smollett was sentenced last week to 150 days in prison and a $25,000 fine for staging an attack on him and lying to police about it. He also has to repay the city of Chicago $ 120,000 for the costs incurred in his case.

His lawyers appealed the ruling and then requested that Smollett be released, as he was expected to have served his entire sentence by the time the appeal is heard.

Earlier this week, Smollett’s lawyers and family expressed concerns about the actor’s safety in prison. After the judge’s ruling last week, Smollett told the judge, among other things, that “if he were to die in prison, it will not be by suicide”. It is not clear whether that played a role in the decision to release him for the time being.