Sean 'Diddy' Combs asks for release on a US$50 million bond ahead of sentencing in October
In a court filing Tuesday (Jul 29), Combs' lawyer argued that conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn are dangerous, noting that others convicted of similar prostitution-related offenses were typically released before sentencing.
'Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct,' Marc Agnifilo said. 'In fact, he may be the only person currently in a United States jail for being any sort of john, and certainly the only person in jail for hiring adult male escorts for him and his girlfriend.'
A spokesperson for the US attorney's office in Manhattan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors have previously insisted he remains a flight risk.
Combs, 55, faces up to a decade in prison on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution for flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, for sexual encounters. A conviction on racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking could have put one of hip-hop's celebrated figures in prison for life.
Immediately after he was acquitted on Jul 2, Agnifilo had asked that Combs be released on bond.
But Judge Arun Subramanian denied it, saying Combs at the time had not met the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence a 'lack of danger to any person or the community'.
Combs is the latest celebrity inmate to be locked up at MDC Brooklyn, the only federal jail in New York City, joining a list that includes R Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell and cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
International Business Times
2 hours ago
- International Business Times
Singapore Driver, 44, Involved in Tampines Crash That Claimed Two Lives, Including JC Student, to Plead Guilty
A 44-year-old driver who was involved in a chain collision in Tampines that killed two people and injured several others is all set to plead guilty on Oct 23. On Thursday, July 31, Muhammad Syafie Ismail's guilty plea was set following one of several pre-trial conferences that preceded this event. For an incident that occurred at the intersection of Tampines Avenue 1 and Tampines Avenue 4 in April of last year, Syafie is facing five charges under the Road Traffic Act. Among his charges are failing to stop after an accident, dangerous driving causing death, and dangerous driving causing injury. After 7 am on April 22, 2024, he allegedly drove carelessly along Bedok Reservoir Road in the direction of Tampines Avenue 4. He allegedly caused a "sideswipe collision" when he abruptly changed lanes to pass a car, causing another vehicle to veer left and scrape its tires against the road kerb. After that, he allegedly ran a red light and struck three vehicles, one of which swerved and struck a van. Following the incident, 57-year-old Norzihan Juwahib, a worker for a pest control company, and 17-year-old Temasek Junior College student Afifah Munirah Muhammad Azril perished as van passengers. An 11-year-old boy was hurt when the van struck a minibus. Court documents indicate that Regent Law attorneys are Syafie's legal representatives. Syafie could spend two to eight years in prison and be prohibited from operating any kind of vehicle if found guilty of dangerous driving that results in death. He could be fined up to S$10,000 (US$7,700), imprisoned for up to two years, or both for reckless driving that causes harm. He would also be prohibited from operating any kind of vehicle. He could be fined up to S$5,000, imprisoned for up to 12 months, or both if found guilty of dangerous driving. Failing to stop after an accident is punishable by a maximum fine of S$1,000, a maximum jail sentence of three months, or both. In addition to the criminal case, Syafie is facing two civil lawsuits for negligence resulting from auto accidents.
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Trump hits Brazil with tariffs, sanctions but key sectors excluded
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SAO PAULO/BRASILIA - U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday slapped a 50% tariff on most Brazilian goods to fight what he has called a "witch hunt" against former President Jair Bolsonaro, but softened the blow by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice from heavier levies. Trump announced the tariffs, some of the steepest levied on any economy in the U.S. trade war, as his administration also unveiled sanctions on the Brazilian supreme court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial on charges of plotting a coup. "Alexandre de Moraes has taken it upon himself to be judge and jury in an unlawful witch hunt against U.S. and Brazilian citizens and companies," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement. Bessent said Moraes "is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicized prosecutions — including against former President Jair Bolsonaro." Last week, the Brazilian justice levied search warrants and restraining orders against Bolsonaro over allegations he courted Trump's interference in his criminal case, in which he is accused of plotting to stop President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office in 2023. Trump's final tariff order and the sanctions followed weeks of sparring with Lula, who has likened the U.S. president, a close ideological ally of Bolsonaro's, to an unwanted "emperor." On Wednesday, Lula and his government closed ranks behind Moraes, calling the U.S. sanctions "unacceptable." Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT's finances hit by 2024 EWL disruption; profit after tax for trains division dips 8% Asia US-Malaysia tariff deal set for Aug 1 after Trump-Anwar phone call Business Deepening S'pore-Latin America ties a matter of urgency amid global trade uncertainty: Alvin Tan Singapore Underground pipe leak likely reason for water supply issues during Toa Payoh fire: Town council Multimedia 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge Life Milo tees, kaya toast pimple patches, crockery: Here are the SG60 merch to collect Singapore SingHealth nurses get $5.7m from Wee Foundation for education, skills development Singapore 'Switching careers just as I became a dad was risky, but I had to do it for my family' "The Brazilian government considers the use of political arguments to defend the trade measures announced by the U.S. government against Brazilian exports to be unjustifiable," it said in a statement. Lula added that Brazil was willing to negotiate trade with the U.S., but that it would not give up on the tools it had at hand to defend itself, hinting that retaliation was possible. Still, Trump's tariff order threatened that if Brazil were to retaliate, the U.S. would also up the ante. DIPLOMACY AT WORK Despite Trump's effort to use the tariffs to alter the trajectory of a pivotal criminal trial, the range of exemptions came as a relief for many in Brasilia, who since Trump announced the tariff earlier this month had been urging protections for major exporters caught in the crossfire. "We're not facing the worst-case scenario," Brazilian Treasury Secretary Rogerio Ceron told reporters. The new tariffs will go into effect on August 6, not on Friday as Trump announced originally. Trump's executive order formalizing a 50% tariff excluded dozens of key Brazilian exports to the United States, including civil aircraft, pig iron, precious metals, wood pulp, energy and fertilizers. Planemaker Embraer, whose chief executive has met with officials in Washington and U.S. clients in recent days to plead its case for relief, said an initial review indicated that a 10% tariff imposed by Trump in April remains in place, with the exclusion applying to the additional 40%. The exceptions are likely a response to concerns from U.S. companies, rather than a step back from Trump's efforts to influence Brazilian politics, said Rafael Favetti, a partner at political consultancy Fatto Inteligencia Politica in Brasilia. "This also shows that Brazilian diplomacy did its work correctly by working to raise awareness among U.S. companies," he said. Brazil's minister of foreign affairs, Mauro Vieira, said he met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday to express the nation's willingness to discuss tariffs after negotiations stalled in June, though he stressed Bolsonaro's legal troubles were not up for debate. It remains unclear what Brazilian authorities "are bringing to the negotiating table to, for instance, open the domestic market," Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients. IMPACT SMALLER THAN EXPECTED The effective tariff rate on Brazilian shipments to the U.S. should be around 30.8%, lower than previously expected due to the exemptions, according to Goldman. Oil shipments to the U.S., which had been suspended, are set to restart after being spared, lobby group IBP said. Meanwhile, mining lobby Ibram said the exemptions covered 75% of mining exports. However, it was still too soon to celebrate, said former Brazilian trade secretary Welber Barral, estimating that Brazil exports some 3,000 different products to the United States. "There will be an impact," Barral said. Trump's tariff exemptions did not shield two of Brazil's key exports to the U.S., beef and coffee. Meatpackers expect to log $1 billion in losses in the second half of the year on the new tariffs, lobby group Abiec, which represents beef producers including JBS and Marfrig, said. Coffee exporters will also continue to push for exemptions, they said in a statement. The government said it was readying measures to protect Brazil's businesses and workers. If Brazil were to retaliate against Trump's measures, that "would generate a larger negative impact" on activity and inflation, Goldman said. "The political inclination may be to retaliate, but exporters and business associations have been urging the Brazilian administration to engage, negotiate and de-escalate." REUTERS
Straits Times
7 hours ago
- Straits Times
Pedestrian struck by taxi after dashing across Yio Chu Kang Road, police investigating
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox A boy dashing across a junction at Yio Chu Kang Road and Hougang Avenue 8 on July 29. SINGAPORE - The police are investigating after an accident in Yio Chu Kang Road involving a taxi and a pedestrian. The accident took place at the junction of Yio Chu Kang Road and Hougang Avenue 8 at about 8.10pm on July 29, according to Facebook group SG Road Vigilante. In a video posted by the group, a boy can be seen dashing across the road while the red man is showing . Just as he reaches the left-most lane, a taxi appears. The boy then hits the right side of the vehicle and the impact causes him to fall over. The boy gets on his feet quickly and picks up his belongings, before walking by himself to the side of the road. Meanwhile, the cab driver stops the vehicle at the next traffic light. In response to queries on July 31, a spokesperson from taxi company ComfortDelgro said that a police report has been filed and the company is cooperating with the authorities in their investigation. 'Our taxi team will be reaching out to the pedestrian to offer assistance and support. We are also extending support to our cabby, who was affected by the incident and whose vehicle sustained damage,' the spokesperson added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore SMRT's finances hit by 2024 EWL disruption; profit after tax for trains division dips 8% Asia US-Malaysia tariff deal set for Aug 1 after Trump-Anwar phone call Business Deepening S'pore-Latin America ties a matter of urgency amid global trade uncertainty: Alvin Tan Singapore Underground pipe leak likely reason for water supply issues during Toa Payoh fire: Town council Multimedia 60 years, 60 items: A National Day game challenge Life Milo tees, kaya toast pimple patches, crockery: Here are the SG60 merch to collect Singapore Driver in 2024 Tampines crash that killed 2 set to plead guilty in October Singapore 'Switching careers just as I became a dad was risky, but I had to do it for my family' The police confirmed that a report was lodged and investigations are ongoing.
