Embattled music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has reportedly been placed on suicide watch following his arrest on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution.
The 54-year-old star was apprehended earlier this week at a hotel in New York and has since been remanded to Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center after pleading not guilty.
Combs has been denied bail twice and remains in custody. Sources close to the situation say the decision to place him on suicide watch was taken as a preventative measure, with concerns over his mental state as he processes the gravity of the situation.
The U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Corrections defines suicide watch as a precautionary measure for inmates considered at risk, requiring frequent observation.
Combs’ legal team had argued for his release while awaiting trial, proposing a $50 million bond, electronic monitoring, weekly drug tests, a visitor log, the surrender of his passport, and no contact with women. However, his requests for bail were denied by the judge.
Judge Andrew Carter, who presided over the hearings, expressed concerns that Combs’ release could interfere with the judicial process, stating, “My bigger concern deals with the danger of obstruction of justice and the danger of witness tampering. That is a real concern that I have here.”
During Tuesday’s arraignment, Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, disclosed that the music mogul was receiving “treatment and therapy for things that more respectfully he needs treatment and therapy for,” though he did not provide further details due to confidentiality.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges. If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, with the possibility of life in prison.
