Romanian court upholds 'misogynist influencer' Andrew Tate's 30-day detention

A Romanian court upheld on Tuesday the 30-day arrest order against Andrew Tate, an internet personality notorious for hate speech, for alleged human trafficking and formation of an organised crime group to exploit six women.

Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for Romanian anti-organized crime agency DIICOT, said the court rejected an appeal by Tate against a judge’s earlier decision to extend his arrest from 24 hours to 30 days.

Tate, his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects were detained by Romanian anti-organised crime prosecutors at the end of December pending a criminal investigation. They have denied wrongdoing through an attorney and have challenged the arrest warrant.

The court late Tuesday rejected all four appeals against a judge's 30 December decision to grant prosecutors' request to extend the arrest period. 

A document explaining the judge’s reasoning said “the possibility of them evading investigations cannot be ignored” and that they could “leave Romania and settle in countries that do not allow extradition”.

Prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship.

The victims were then taken to properties on the outskirts of capital Bucharest and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites which generated large financial gains, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors also said one of the brothers raped one of the victims in March of last year, which is when the investigation started.

"The possibility that the suspects would evade investigation, leave Romania and settle in countries that do not allow extradition given their financial