Release on bail refused: P. Diddy remains in prison
By Benno Schwinghammer
New York / Los Angeles - US rapperSean "Diddy" Combs (55) , who has been charged with sexual offenses, remains in prison. The judge in charge, Arun Subramanian, rejected a corresponding application for his release from prison, as several US media reported in unison.
Combs' lawyers had offered a bail package of around 50 million dollars (cica 47.4 million euros) to allow their client to move to house arrest. Such a request had already been rejected twice before.
Combs has been in custody since mid-September. The rapper is accused by the public prosecutor's office in New York of sex trafficking, organized crime and other offences.
Combs pleaded not guilty. The trial is currently provisionally scheduled to begin in May.
120 people file suit against P. Diddy
There are also a number of civil lawsuits for sexual abuse. A law firm in Houston, Texas, recently announced that it is representing 120 people with allegations against the rapper.
Combs was one of the most successful rappers in the world in recent decades with hits such as "I'll Be Missing You" and "Bad Boy For Life".
In the course of his career, he used the pseudonyms "Puff Daddy", "P. Diddy" and "Diddy", among others.