Romanian court upholds decision to extend Andrew Tate's 30-day detention

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - A Romanian court upheld on Wednesday last month's decision to extend controversial influencer Andrew Tate's 30-day detention after his appeal was dismissed.

The British-American national and former kickboxer and his brother, Tristan Tate, have been in custody since Dec. 29 on suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming an organized crime group to exploit women.

Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for Romania's anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, said that the Bucharest Court of Appeal approved the decision to extend Tate's 30-day detention, according to Sky news.

His friends, Georgiana Naghel and former policewoman Alexandra Luana, were also held in the same case as the two brothers.

Authorities used Tate’s social media post where he ridiculed a Romanian pizza chain to confirm he was in the country.

His arrest came after climate activist Greta Thunberg responded to a tweet by Tate, in which he boasted about his car collection.

Tate, a controversial online influencer, has been banned from several social media platforms for expressing extreme views, including that women bear some responsibility for sexual assault.