Rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs, who has been charged with sexual crimes in Hollywood, was denied bail for the third time.
A judge has cited a risk of tampering with witnesses and evidence of violations of regulations that bar him from contacting third parties, 'Variety' reports.
Judge Arun Subramanian delivered the ruling following a New York hearing into conditions ensuring safety in the community.
According to 'Variety', the council for the rapper had provided a $50 million bond backed by equity in his homes, the promise of security monitoring and assurance that he would not interfere with investigations surrounding his charges.
The ruling stated that "there is evidence of supporting a serious risk of witness tampering", and that Combs contacted witnesses "even after" his grand jury testimony in June 2024.
The judge also added that "there is evidence that Combs violated Bureau of Prisons regulations during his pretrial detention to obscure his communications with third parties."
According to the judgment, Combs paid other inmates to make calls to people who are not on his list of approved contacts. Combs also asked relatives and his defense council to organize a three-way call that made them hard to track.
Because of the infractions listed above, the court concluded that his "willingness to skirt BOP rules in a way that would make it more difficult for his communications to be monitored is strong evidence that the Court cannot be 'reasonably assured' as to the sufficiency of any conditions of release".
At a hearing last week, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christine Slavik had said that Combs "cannot and will not follow rules" and "cannot be trusted". She even added that his council failed to control their client.
Combs is serving time at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. after being arrested on September 16 by Homeland Security for racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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