Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorneys are seeking to have the bail denial lifted

Lawyers for hip-hop artist Sean “Diddy” Combs will appear in court on Wednesday to challenge a judge’s decision to deny Mr Combs bail after he pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking.

A New York judge returned the singer to custody on Tuesday after prosecutors argued he was a “high risk of flight”.

Mr Combs, 54, was arrested on Monday evening, accused of running a criminal enterprise since at least 2008 that relied on drugs and violence to force women to “fulfill his sexual desires”, according to prosecutors.

The 14-page indictment charges her with prostitution, forced sex trafficking, and trafficking.

If convicted of all three charges, the rapper and record producer will be sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

He was wearing a black T-shirt and gray pants when he appeared in court on Tuesday in Manhattan.

Asked by US Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky how he wishes to plead guilty, Mr Combs stood up and said: “not guilty”.

Mr. Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said that after that, the singer’s legal team has submitted an application to challenge the judge’s bail decision.

“We believe him wholeheartedly,” Mr. Agnifilo told reporters outside the Manhattan courthouse. “He didn’t do these things.”

According to court documents, Mr Combs “used the power” of his position to “lure abused women… to engage in lengthy sexual acts” called “Freak Offs”.

“During the Freak Offs, Combs distributed various controlled substances to the victims, in part to induce the victims to listen and comply,” the indictment said.

At a press conference, US Attorney Damian Williams said officers found guns, ammunition and more than 1,000 bottles of perfume during raids on Mr Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles, about six months ago.

Mr. Williams said federal agents also found three automatic rifles with defaced serial numbers, as well as a drum magazine.

He told reporters that more charges could be filed, without giving details.

Mr. Agnifilo, the singer’s lawyer, remained firm and said, “there is no coercion and there is no crime.”

“He is not afraid of lawsuits,” he said, adding that he believed Mr Combs “would have been unfairly prosecuted”.

In their final plea for Mr Combs to be released from prison, his lawyers recommended a bail package of $50m (£37.8m) to the judge.

If accepted, Mr Combs will await his trial from his mansion on Miami’s exclusive Star Island.

In court papers, federal prosecutors said Mr Combs “harassed, threatened, and coerced women and others around him in order to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct”.

Prosecutors accused Mr Combs of “creating a criminal enterprise” whose members – under his direction – were involved in sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson and bribery.

“On numerous occasions”, the documents say, Mr Combs abused the women by “hitting, punching, dragging, throwing things and kicking”.

The lawsuit did not specify how many women are alleged to be victims. Nor does it accuse Mr. Combs himself of directly engaging in unwanted sexual activity with women.

The founder of Bad Boy Records, formerly known as P. Diddy and Puff Daddy, have faced a lot of allegations in the past.

Last November, his ex-girlfriend, singer Casandra Elizabeth Venturafiled a civil lawsuit against him that included graphic descriptions of violent abuse. He denied the charges, but dropped them a day after they were filed.

In May, Mr Combs issued a public apology afterwards video clips at a Los Angeles hotel he was seen hitting Ms. Ventura in the hallway.

Tuesday’s indictment against Mr. Combs accuses him of similar violence.

Ms. Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, declined to comment on Mr. Combs’ arrest.

The case follows a string of sexual harassment allegations against Mr Combs, one of the most successful music stars in rap history.

Four women, including Ms. Ventura, filed lawsuits accusing him of sexual and physical abuse.

In a statement issued last December, Mr Combs defended himself against what he described as “sickening allegations” made by “people who want a quick payday”.

In June, he reinstated the “Key to New York City” ceremony following a request from Mayor Eric Adams, who had honored him just nine months earlier.

Days later, Howard University announced that it would revoke Mr. Combs’ 2014 degree.

The singer is credited with helping turn rappers and R&B artists such as Usher, Mary J Blige and Notorious BIG into superstars in the 1990s and 2000s.