Controversial influencer and former kickboxer Andrew Tate has lost his appeal against being held for 30 days at a detention centre in Romania.
Tate, brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects were detained by Romanian anti-organised crime agency DIICOT last month pending a criminal investigation into alleged rape, human trafficking and forming of an organised crime group. All four of the suspects challenged their arrest extension that was granted to prosecutors on December 30 of last year.
A document explaining the judge’s motivation for their 30-day detention stated “the possibility of them evading investigations cannot be ignored” and the suspects could “leave Romania and settle in countries that do not allow extradition.” The Tate brothers have denied any wrongdoing through their lawyer Eugen Vidineac and have also challenged the arrest warrant.
The brothers, who argued there is no evidence with which to hold them, were pictured handcuffed together walking into court on Tuesday morning. Prosecutors were seeking an extension of the brothers detention for up to 180 days whilst they continue their investigation into alleged charges.
Tate has received unprecedented internet fame in the past year, dividing opinions for his views on society and women which are often labelled as “dangerous” and “misogynistic”. Mr Vidineac has insisted that Tate’s online character couldn’t be “used as evidence in a criminal trial” as it may not reflect who he is in real life.
The lawyer also claimed that files from the ongoing investigation have not been made available to his legal team. Speaking in a translated interview that was posted on Tate’s Twitter account, Mr Vidineac said: “Even up to the present moment, the criminal investigation file has not been made available to us to ensure the effective defence of our clients.
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“In this sense, I would like to point out, at least from this point of view, I am also somehow amazed, there is not a single piece of evidence apart from the victim’s statement that leads to the idea that a crime of rape was committed. “In my view, there is no evidence to the formation of an opinion of reasonable suspicion regarding the commission of offences provided for and punishable by criminal law. In this case we are talking about human trafficking and organised crime.”
Prosecutors have seized 15 luxury vehicles and over 10 properties and homes belonging to the four suspects in Romania. The Tate brothers were also questioned last April when police reportedly found two girls who claimed they were being held against their will. The brothers were released while the investigation continued, with police seizing s everal electronic devices from their homes, which were being subject to computer searches.
