India, May 2 -- Sean 'Diddy' Combs has officially turned down a plea deal from federal prosecutors, setting the stage for this decade's highly watched criminal trial to begin in New York next week.

During the pretrial hearing on Thursday, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian directly asked the music mogul if he had refused the government's offer in a sound mind and under no influence. Combs responded plainly: "Yes, your honour."

The court would seal the terms of the Diddy's plea agreement from the public, yet the prosecutors suggested this arrangement would give Combs a lesser punishment than trial-based penalties.

The disgraced musical mogul is currently charged with sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals across s...