Former kickboxer Andrew Tate to remain in custody, pending probe
A Romanian court has ordered that divisive internet personality Andrew Tate, his brother and two other suspects remain in Romanian police custody for a full 30 days, pending a criminal inquiry into alleged human trafficking.
Key points:
- Andrew Tate is facing charges of forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit six women
- The first court to issue the arrest warrant cited the risk that the suspects could flee Romania
- Prosecutors have seized 15 luxury vehicles and more than 10 properties and homes
Mr Tate, his brother, Tristan, and two Romanian female suspects were detained by Romanian anti-organised crime prosecutors on December 29 on charges of forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit six women.
They have denied wrongdoing through their attorneys and challenged the 30-day arrest warrant.
On Tuesday, the Bucharest court of appeals said it rejected the challenge as "unfounded".
"Prosecutors' arguments were that they have evidence. Naturally, our arguments were that there isn't evidence," Ioan Gliga, one of the defence lawyers, told reporters.
The first court to issue the arrest warrant cited the risk that the suspects could evade justice by leaving Romania for countries with which Bucharest has no extradition treaty.
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 the capital, Bucharest, and — through physical violence and mental intimidation — were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gains, prosecutors said.
They also said one of the brothers had raped one of the victims in March of last year, which is when the investigation started.
Romania's DIICOT anti-organised crime unit spokesperson Ramona Bolla said prosecutors have seized 15 luxury vehicles and more than 10 properties and homes belonging to the suspects, in Bucharest and Prahova and Brasov counties.
The seizure was meant to prevent the assets being sold or concealed.
Should prosecutors need more time to investigate, they can seek approval for further extensions of up to 180 days of detention under Romanian law.
Andrew Tate banned from Instagram and Facebook
Former kickboxer Andrew Tate is banned for violating Meta's policies on "dangerous organisations and individuals".
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Mr Tate gained mainstream notoriety for misogynistic remarks and hate speech that saw him banned from all major social media platforms, although his Twitter account was reinstated in November after Elon Musk acquired the social media giant.
The former professional kickboxer — who holds US and British nationality — has said women are partially responsible for being raped and that they belong to men.
He is a self-professed misogynist.
On a podcast last year, Tate said he started making money by convincing multiple girlfriends to video chat and share the profits back when he lived in London.
"How can I use these women to make me money?" Mr Tate asked, adding his business started with two girlfriends and peaked with 75 women working for him and earning $600,000 a month.
He has also said he moved to Romania after being investigated in the United Kingdom on charges of sexual assault, which were ultimately dropped, because he liked living in countries where corruption was accessible to everybody.
https://www.xxx.xxx.xx/news/2023-01-11/former-kickboxer-tate-to-remain-in-custody-pending-probe-romania/101842800
I can imagine one or two beta suck TD posters think this guy is a hero.
