Woman Who Claims Sean Combs Dangled Her Off Balcony to Testify Today
A woman who claims Sean 'Diddy' Combs dangled her over the 17th floor balcony of Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura's high-rise apartment and slammed her into patio furniture in a fit of random rage is due to take the stand at the mogul's sex trafficking and racketeering trial Wednesday.
Bryana 'Bana' Bongolan appeared in the courtroom before the jury was seated and invoked her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian agreed to sign an immunity order before she testifies later today, CNN reported. It wasn't immediately clear why she might need the protection, but her testimony is expected to touch on drug use.
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Bongolan was one of Ventura's close friends while the R&B singer was dating Combs in the latter half of the couple's turbulent relationship. In a $10 million lawsuit filed last November, Bongolan said the 'outrageous' balcony incident left her deeply traumatized.
'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,' the complaint filed in Los Angeles said.
In the 17-page filing obtained by Rolling Stone, Bongolan said she and her girlfriend were asleep in a guest bedroom at Ventura's apartment on September 26, 2016, when Combs showed up unannounced and started banging on the door. Bongolan said she asked her girlfriend to hide in the guest bathroom and lock the door.
As soon as Combs gained entry into the apartment, he allegedly grabbed Bongolan on the balcony, turned her back to his chest and groped her breasts as she yelled at him to leave her alone, the lawsuit said. Bongolan claimed Combs then lifted her onto the balcony banister while yelling incoherently, 'Do you know what the fuck you did?'
Bongolan said she had no idea what Combs was saying and desperately tried in resist. But standing only 4 feet and 11 inches tall and weighing less than 100 pounds, Bongolan said the music mogul easily overpowered her.
'He immediately lifted her up higher and over the 17th floor balcony of Ms. Ventura's apartment with only Combs' grip keeping her from falling to her death,' the lawsuit said. Bongolan said Ventura eventually emerged from her bedroom and screamed at Combs to stop, informing him that Bongolan's girlfriend was in the apartment as well.
'Ostensibly recognizing the threat of so many witnesses to his assault, [Combs] pulled Ms. Bongolan back from over the balcony,' the complaint said. At that point, Combs allegedly 'slammed' Bongolan onto the patio furniture, including a table.
'Mr. Combs firmly denies these serious allegations and remains confident they will ultimately be proven baseless,' a legal representative for Combs said in a statement sent to Rolling Stone when the lawsuit was first filed last year.
The alleged balcony incident was initially revealed in Ventura's blockbuster sex trafficking lawsuit filed against Combs in November 2023. Bongolan was not identified by name in the complaint, and Ventura reached a private settlement with Combs a day later.
Bongolan, who worked as a creative consultant and designer on various projects for Combs from 2016 to 2018, claimed she observed Combs being obsessive and controlling with Ventura, monitoring her locations, incessantly contacting her on the phone, and showing up at her home unannounced.She said her concerns escalated when she saw Ventura with a black eye and routinely observed bruises on the singer's body. Bongolan said she once saw Combs throw a kitchen knife at Ventura, who chucked one back in self-defense.
Eventually, Combs began 'directing his rage' toward Bongolan, she alleged in her complaint. Standing just inches from Bongolan's face, Combs allegedly threatened her life, she said. 'I'm the motherfucking devil,' Combs allegedly seethed. 'You have no idea what I could do to you. I could kill you.'Bongolan was mentioned, though not by name, in Combs' superseding indictment as well as prosecutors' opening statement. Prosecutors allege Combs used violence and threats of violence as a means of promoting and protecting the alleged criminal enterprise at the center of the government's racketeering charge against him.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September and has pleaded not guilty to racketeering conspiracy, the sex trafficking of multiple women, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Authorities allege he paid dozens of male escorts to have coerced sex with his alleged victims. If convicted as charged, Combs could spend the rest of his life in prison.
'When employees, witnesses to his abuse, or others threatened Combs' authority or reputation, Combs and members and associates of the Enterprise engaged in acts of violence, threats of violence, threats of financial and reputational harm, and verbal abuse,' Combs' superseding indictment from April charged. 'These acts of violence included arson and multiple acts of kidnapping … In addition, on multiple occasions, Combs threw both objects and people, as well as hit, dragged, choked, and shoved others. On one occasion, combs dangled a female victim over an apartment balcony.'
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