Vienna Rape Case Against US Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs Temporarily Dismissed

As Bussek explained, the presenter filed a complaint against the now 55-year-old artist last February due to the alleged assault. After a legal assessment of the statement of facts, the Vienna prosecution authority determined that the rape allegation is time-barred under current Austrian law, and therefore Combs could no longer be prosecuted in a so-called domestic procedure.

New York Trial Against "P. Diddy" Could Impact Criminal Proceedings in Vienna

However, the statute of limitations may be extended if it turns out that Combs has committed other acts of abuse in the meantime and has been held criminally responsible for them. Since mid-May, a trial against the rapper has been underway in New York, in which serious sexual crimes are among the charges. If this trial, which is expected to last six to eight weeks, results in convictions for rape or other abuse offenses, the Vienna public prosecutor's office would need to examine whether the statute of limitations chain extends back to March 2000 and can potentially be closed. In that case, the Vienna rape allegation would then be revisited by the Vienna public prosecutor's office.

The statute of limitations for rape of adults in this country is generally ten years. In particularly severe cases - when associated with serious bodily harm or trauma - the period is extended to 20 years.

"We have therefore suspended the proceedings under § 192 StPO with the reservation of later prosecution," explained public prosecutor's office spokesperson Bussek. In the event of a conviction of Combs in the USA, "we will re-evaluate the legal situation," she guaranteed.

(APA/Red.)

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