KINGSTON, Jamaica — Shyne Barrow, the rapper who went to jail in 2001 in Sean “Diddy” Combs’s nightclub shooting incident, has condemned Combs for his actions in a recently circulated video that depicts the hip hop mogul beating then-girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles in 2016.

In an official statement shared to his social media, Barrow, who currently serves as Opposition Leader of Belize, said “I vehemently denounce the repugnant behaviour of Sean Diddy Combs captured on the video in which he is seen physically assaulting Mrs Cassie Ventura-Fine.”

“There is no place for violence against women anywhere on the planet. As a father of a precious daughter, a global citizen and the next Prime Minister of Belize I want absolutely nothing to do with people who engage in this pattern of diabolical behaviour.

“My prayers are with Cassie and all the other victims who have come forward with horrendous allegations against Mr Combs,” Barrow said.

He signed the statement as “Hon Dr Shyne Barrow, Opposition Leader of Belize”.

Barrow, whose real name is Moses Michael Levi Barrow, was elected to the Belizean House of Representatives at the 2020 General Election.

He served nearly a decade-long sentence in a United States prison for an assault conviction in the December 27, 1999 club shooting with Combs. Barrow was in the club with Combs and his then-girlfriend Jennifer Lopez when a scuffle reportedly took place after Combs allegedly knocked a drink out of a man’s hand, after someone in the club tossed money in his direction.

A gun was introduced during the confrontation and shots fired. Three bystanders were injured during the incident.

Combs reportedly left the scene with Lopez but investigations led law enforcement officials to their vehicle which revealed a concealed weapon. Combs was arrested for gun possession. The charges against Lopez were eventually dropped.

In 2001, Combs was acquitted of all charges. However, Barrow, who was 21-years-old at the time, was accused of firing the gun and sentenced to 10 years in prison.

Barrow has maintained that he was innocent and in April of this year, he broke his silence saying he was Combs’ “fall guy”.

Earlier in March, Natania Reuben — one of the injured bystanders — claimed Combs shot her in the face at the club that night and said she wanted the case reopened.

Since his deportation to Belize, Barrow was appointed the country’s ambassador of music charged with the sustainable development of the music industry in Belize and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to develop it until he became opposition leader.

Combs is currently facing public backlash after video footage released on Friday showed him beating and dragging Ventura at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles on March 5, 2016.

In the video, Ventura appears to be exiting a hotel room before Combs, holding a towel around his waist, runs after her. It then showed him violently grabbing her by the back of the neck and throwing her to the ground. He then kicked her as she remained motionless on the floor before dragging her by her sweatshirt toward the room.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said it is unable to charge Combs for the incident as the conduct depicted in the 2016 video would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.

However, Combs on Sunday apologised saying, “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life…sometimes you gotta do that. I was f*cked up. I mean I hit rock bottom and I make no excuses. My behaviour on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.”

READ: Diddy apologises for beating Cassie, says he is committed to being a better man

Earlier this year, Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) agents raided a Los Angeles home reportedly associated with Combs.