The court dismissed the motion to release Sean “Diddy” Combs from custody. It justified its decision, among other things, by the impossibility of guaranteeing that the rapper would not manipulate witnesses. The prosecutor's office accused him of such practices. The services report that in just four days, the musician sent 58 text messages to Kalenna Harper – a woman named as a witness to his abuse in the latest lawsuit filed against him.
On Monday evening, 54-year-old Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in Manhattan, New York. The rapper he was charged with three offences: criminal conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation of persons for the purpose of prostitution. The defense attorneys sought to release the musician from custody. In exchange for his release, they proposed to pay bail in the amount of 50 million dollars (approx. 191 million PLN). Their motion in this case was dismissed by Judge Robyn Tarnofsky – describes NBC News.
As reported by the portal, Tarnofsky stated in her decision that the justice system is unable to guarantee that Sean Combs will return to court, that he will not pose a threat to the community or tamper with witnesses. The prosecutor's office also expressed concerns about the possibility of Combs influencing others. To confirm their validity, they cited a recent text message exchange between the rapper and singer Kalenna Harper – adds NBC News.
Sean “Diddy'” Combs Accused of Witness Tampering
According to the report, the intensified contact between Sean Combs and Kalenna Harper allegedly occurred last week, just a few days after the rapper was sued by singer Dawn Richard. She accused the 54-year-old of threats, unwanted touching and failure to pay her owed wages. The woman was previously a member of the bands Danity Kane and Diddy – Dirty Money. Both were run by Combs' music label. The second band, in addition to Dawn Richard, consisted of Sean Combs and Kalenna Harper. Harper was named in the lawsuit as a witness to selected abuses by Combs.
SEE ALSO: Sean “Diddy” Combs denied beating his partner. CNN showed the tape. He remembered. “Pathetic”
Sean “Diddy” CombsPAP/Newscom
In the four days since the lawsuit was filed, Combs and Harper have exchanged 128 phone calls. The rapper himself sent the singer 58 text messages during that time. The contact ceased after Harper issued a statement in which she noted that “many of the allegations and incidents described in (Richard's) lawsuit do not represent her experiences,” NBC reports, citing information provided by the prosecutor's office. The prosecutors believe that “this incident is just one way in which (Combs) has the ability to keep witnesses in his pocket or at his disposal.”
– Witnesses we spoke with commonly expressed their fear of the defendant – said Emily Johnson, a prosecutor involved in the case. Referring to the alleged witness tampering, the authorities also pointed to conversations the rapper allegedly had with other witnesses involved in the lawsuits filed against him. During one of them, the musician allegedly suggested financial support in exchange for being “on his side.”
Combs is a rapper and producer who peaked in the late '90s and early '00s. He was also known under the pseudonyms P. Diddy and Puff Daddy. Last November, his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura accused him of physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape during their long-term relationship. The rapper denied the allegations, and the woman agreed to a settlement. He remains embroiled in several other lawsuits, however.
Main image source: PAP/Newscom