On Tuesday, a court in Romania’s capital city agreed to extend social media influencer Andrew Tate’s detention for another 30 days on suspicion of organized crime and human trafficking, according to a representative from the country’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT.
Tate, a British-American citizen with 5.1 million Twitter followers known for misogynistic views, was arrested in December along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian women.
The Tates lost an appeal in February to challenge their detention, which has now been extended for the third time.
The decision was based on the “particular dangerousness of the defendants” and their capacity to target vulnerable victims, according to a statement from the judge.
Tate’s lawyers, however, claim that the defence has “effectively paralyzed the evidence” and cannot keep the Tates in custody.
Tate has claimed that the case is a “political” attack and that Romanian prosecutors have no evidence against him.
As a result of the human trafficking case, the anti-organized crime agency identified six victims who were abused physically, mentally, and sexually.
In January, Romanian authorities seized assets worth an estimated $3.9 million from a compound linked to the Tates, which included luxury cars such as a Rolls-Royce, a Ferrari, and a Porsche.
If the prosecutors prove that the money was gained through illicit activities, the assets will cover the investigation expenses and compensate the victims.
His lawyers are confident that Andrew Tate will be released despite the allegations against him.
He was previously banned from social media platforms for expressing hate speech and misogynistic views.
On his Twitter account, before the Tuesday ruling, Tate posted that he could easily “think himself into euphoric gratefulness” but also the “deepest and darkest depression.”
He also claimed that he has “seen hell” and “lived hell” but can produce either a positive or negative state of mind.
The case against Andrew Tate and the other suspects remains ongoing, and the extended detention will give authorities more time to gather evidence and build their case.
The decision to extend Tate’s detention has received significant public and media attention, and many are eagerly awaiting the case’s outcome.
