Bail denied to “Diddy”
New York City, Sep 18 (EFE).-
Hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is to remain in pretrial detention after a second New York City judge rejected his bail appeal on Wednesday, deeming him at risk of witness tampering.
Combs, 54, faces charges including sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, to which he pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.
Judge Robyn Tarnofsky that same day rejected his bail, arguing that “this is a crime that happens behind closed doors, even when pretrial services is monitoring.”
On Wednesday, Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo requested that the producer be released on $50 million bail package, with terms including restricting women visitors to his home, surrendering his passport, home detention and drug testing.
However, District Judge Andrew Carter agreed with the prosecution that Combs should remain in custody until the trial.
“My bigger concern deals with the danger of obstruction of justice and the danger of witness tampering,” said Carter.
Combs is accused of heading a criminal enterprise, the members and associates of which engaged in, and attempted to engage in, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice, among other crimes.
If convicted, he faces up to life in prison. EFE asg/tw
