Too dangerous to be freed: Jeffrey Epstein denied bail in child sex trafficking case

Wealthy US financier will remain behind bars while he fights charges that he exploited dozens of girls in New York and Florida in the early 2000s

Epstein deemed flight risk because of access to private planes, frequent overseas travel and home in Paris

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US financier Jeffrey Epstein looks on near Judge Richard Berman during a bail hearing in his sex trafficking case, in this court sketch in New York on Thursday. Image: Jane Rosenberg via Reuters

Published: 1:11am, 19 Jul 2019Updated: 2:18am, 19 Jul 2019

A judge denied bail for jailed financier Jeffrey Epstein on sex trafficking charges on Thursday, saying the danger to the community that would result if the jet-setting defendant was free formed the “heart of this decision”.

Epstein, with his hands folded before him, showed no reaction to the announcement by US District Judge Richard Berman. It means Epstein will remain behind bars in Manhattan while he fights charges that he exploited dozens of girls in New York and Florida in the early 2000s.

“I doubt that any bail package can overcome danger to the community,” Berman said.

The defence had argued that Epstein, 66, should be allowed to await trial under house arrest with electronic monitoring at his US$77 million Manhattan mansion. They said he would not flee and was willing to pledge a fortune of at least US$559 million as collateral.

Courtney Wild, who says she was abused by Jeffrey Epstein when she was a minor, speaks at a news conference in New York on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

The judge said he also rejected bail because Epstein presents a flight risk, in part because of his access to private planes, his frequent travel, including to foreign countries, and his home in Paris.