Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been accused of threatening to kill a woman and dangling her over a 17th floor balcony.
According to a report by Rolling Stone, the fashion designer Bryana ‘Bana’ Bongolan has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles this week against the disgraced rapper and music mogul. The suit includes claims of sexual battery, infliction of emotional distress and false imprisonment, and Bongolan is seeking $10million (£7.9million) in damages.
Combs “firmly denies” the allegations set out by the suit.
Bongolan claims to have witnessed abuse between Combs and his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, before Combs went on to intimidate and threaten Bongolan. She says in September 2016, Combs then dangled Bongolan over a 17th floor balcony while screaming at her.
Bongolan’s attorney James R. Nikraftar has said: “The only purpose of dangling someone over a balcony is to actually kill them or to intentionally terrorize them and rob them of any concept of dominion over their own bodily autonomy and safety. Ms. Bongolan refuses to allow this fear to control the rest of her life and brings this action to demand that Mr. Combs takes responsibility for the trauma he intentionally and maliciously inflicted.”
A representative for Combs told Rolling Stone: “Anyone has the right to file a lawsuit, regardless of the evidence they may or may not have. Since last year, Ms. Bongolan has expressed an intention to sue Mr. Combs and has sought legal representation to pursue her claims. Mr. Combs firmly denies these serious allegations and remains confident they will ultimately be proven baseless.”
Combs has pleaded not guilty to an indictment that saw him charged with racketeering and sex trafficking, and his trial in the federal criminal case is set to begin on May 5 next year. He has been held in a federal jail in Brooklyn since his arrest on September 16, and his first bail denial came after he offered a $50million (£38.4million) bond. He was subsequently reportedly placed on suicide watch.
Combs was denied bail for the third time this week (November 27), with the judge declaring 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”.
Another reason for the denial of bail is due to prosecutors claiming that Combs has attempted to misuse jail resources to influence witnesses in his case and coercing at least eight other inmates to use their phones.
Another wave of sexual misconduct lawsuits were filed against him by five more anonymous accusers earlier this month. Three men and two women claim they were drugged and sexually assaulted by the rapper in incidents in New York and Miami dating back to 2001.
Those allegations follow an accusation in late October of Diddy allegedly drugging and sexually assaulting a 10-year-old boy in 2005. Before that, it was reported that over 120 people had come forward with new allegations – including 25 minors.
Diddy has – through representatives – denied all allegations against him to date. Should he be found guilty, Diddy could face 15 years to life in prison.
For more help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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