Cassie Ventura’s friend Bryana Bongolan demonstrates how she said Sean “Diddy” Combs lifted her over the balcony of a 17th floor apartment, during Combs’ sex trafficking trial in New York City, New York, U.S., June 4, 2025 in this courtroom sketch.
| Photo Credit: REUTERS
In a new courtroom testimony, graphic designer Bryana Bongolan claimed music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs once dangled her off a 17th-floor balcony and physically assaulted her during a 2016 incident tied to his then-girlfriend, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura.Bongolan, appearing as a government witness in Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering case, testified that the alleged balcony attack occurred after Combs stormed into Ventura’s apartment while she and her girlfriend were asleep. “You know what the (expletive) you did,” he allegedly shouted before lifting Bongolan onto the balcony ledge and throwing her into patio furniture.Photos of Bongolan’s bruises and a puncture wound were shown to the jury, complete with metadata linking them to the date of the alleged assault. Prosecutors say the incident reflects a pattern of violent, controlling behavior.Another disturbing claim followed as Bongolan said she once saw Combs throw a knife at Ventura during a separate altercation. According to her, Ventura threw it back, and neither was injured.Testifying to a wider environment of abuse, Bongolan recounted regular drug use — including cocaine and ketamine — with Ventura, saying she sometimes procured drugs for the singer, who paid her. She admitted both struggled with addiction, but stated she is now sober.On the stand, Bongolan also recalled a moment during a Malibu photoshoot where Combs allegedly got in her face and threatened, “I’m the devil and I could kill you.” “I was terrified,” she told the jury.Combs’ defense team, led by attorney Nicole Westmoreland, worked to discredit Bongolan’s account, highlighting inconsistencies in her recollection of prior interviews with prosecutors. Under cross-examination, Bongolan frequently said she could not remember past statements, including details about the balcony incident and the alleged threat in Malibu.The testimony builds on earlier claims from Ventura, the government’s central witness, who previously told the court she saw Combs drag Bongolan off the balcony railing and throw her onto the patio.Also testifying Wednesday was forensic video analyst Frank Piazza, who authenticated footage showing Combs beating Ventura in a hotel hallway in 2016, that has become central to the prosecution’s case.Bongolan is set to resume testimony Thursday, with another key witness, identified only as “Jane,” expected to follow. Published – June 05, 2025 11:54 am IST