Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail in sex trafficking case

Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied bail. The disgraced music mogul was indicted on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.

Sean has meanwhile pleaded “not guilty”. Those are the only two words he uttered at the two-hour hearing at federal court in downtown Manhattan.

Sean "Diddy" Combs denied bail

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Sean’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo had requested the judge to release him on a $50 million bond, which would be secured by property in Miami. The prosecutors however argued that the rapper should be held without bail.

The judge presiding over the case, Robyn F. Tarnofsky, ruled that Sean “Diddy” should be held without bail because there was no guarantee that he would appear in court when called. She decided over other alternatives like home detention and the substantial bond offered by Combs but ultimately concluded that “the presumption in favour of detention has not been rebutted” by the defence.

If convicted, Sean Combs faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and could face life in prison.

Sean’s lawyer however argued before the bail ruling that Sean had worked toward earning the trust of the court by returning to New York from Miami “to turn himself in,” surrendering his passport. His other family members were also asked to submit their passports.

Meanwhile, the prosecution rebutted those claims, delivering a lengthy argument that Combs is a flight risk, a danger to the community and a repeat obstructor of justice. They argued that there was always a chance that Sean Combs would flee because of his wealth and that he was a “serial abuser and serial obstructor.”

The prosecution added that Combs has contacted alleged victims and witnesses throughout the investigation, saying he has “spread false narratives” to “get victims on his side.”

In her decision, Judge Tarnofsky addressed Combs and said, “I don’t know that you can trust yourself.”

Sean "Diddy" Combs arrested on several charges of abuse and violence of different degrees

As per the indictment, Combs has engaged in violent, abusive and coercive conduct toward women for many years. He is also accused of hitting, kicking and dragging women by the hair, along with other violent acts. The documents claim that in 2011, he and an associate kidnapped someone at gunpoint and set fire to another person’s car with a Molotov cocktail.

Then the court also considered a viral video of 2016 in which Sean assaulted his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway.