Prison officials have placed accused sex trafficker Sean “Diddy” Combs on “procedural” suicide watch as the music mogul awaits trial on three felony charges stemming from more than a decade of alleged abuse, a source said.
Combs has been held in a federal prison in New York City since Monday evening and is being closely monitored by guards at the Metropolitan Detention Center, a source familiar with the situation told NBC News.
The source described this suicide watch as “procedural with high-profile clients.”
Combs “remains strong and focused on his defense,” the source added.
A judge on Wednesday denied Combs’ request for bail, but his attorneys are considering additional legal action in hopes of getting their client released before trial.
Combs, 54, is charged with three felonies: racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation for the purpose of prostitution, acts dating back to 2008.
Prosecutors accuse the famous rapper of using his money and power to stage degrading and sometimes physically violent sex acts called “freak offs.”
These hours- and days-long sexual acts were produced, directed and recorded by Combs, who allegedly “threatened and coerced women and others around him to satisfy his sexual desires,” prosecutors said.
Federal agents alleged they seized more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and other lubricants from Combs’ homes, which were used in the sex acts.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
