Renowned music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs was denied bail for the third time on Wednesday as he awaits trial on federal sex crime charges.
According to People Magazine, Federal Judge Arun Subramanian handed down the decision during a court appearance on November 22.
Combs, who has been in custody since his arrest in September, is currently being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Centre. The judge ruled that the government had provided "clear and convincing evidence" that no conditions of release would adequately ensure the safety of the community.
“The Court finds that the government has shown by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community,” Judge Subramanian stated in his decision.
Concerns over witness tampering
The denial follows similar rulings from two previous judges, who expressed concerns over witness tampering.
Prosecutors allege that Combs has already attempted to intimidate witnesses while behind bars, with claims that his efforts aim to silence or manipulate testimonies to bolster his defense.
"The defendant’s goal is to blackmail victims and witnesses either into silence or providing testimony helpful to his defense," prosecutors argued in court documents.
Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, is facing allegations tied to federal sex crime charges. Despite his legal team’s insistence that the case against him is "thin," his requests for bail continue to be met with strong opposition from federal prosecutors.
Defense proposes $50mln bail package
To secure his release, Combs’ attorneys presented a $50 million bail package, which included stringent conditions designed to mitigate concerns of witness tampering.
The proposed plan included:
- Combs resides in a heavily monitored three-bedroom apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
- 24/7 surveillance with security personnel controlling access to his cell phone.
- Logging all communications, including calls and messages, to ensure transparency.
- Installation of security cameras throughout the property.
Despite these measures, the court remained unconvinced, with Judge Subramanian siding with the prosecution’s assessment of the risks posed by the defendant’s release.
Combs’ legal team has criticized the conditions at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Centre, calling the facility "unfit" for pre-trial detention. However, the court has remained focused on the allegations of intimidation and the safety of the community.
The case has garnered significant public attention, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the multi-millionaire entrepreneur and artist once celebrated as a pioneer in the music industry.
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