Andrew Tate (36) and his brother Tristan’s (34) detention is being extended for the fourth time. The brothers’ defenders believe it is their celebrity status that gives them unreasonably harsh treatment.
Controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan Tate have been arrested in Romania.
There, the two brothers have been arrested since 29 December last year while they are being investigated for human trafficking, rape and for having formed an organized criminal group.
The investigation has later been expanded to include money laundering. Both brothers deny criminal guilt.
The detention is now being extended to a fourth month, following the decision of a Romanian court, reports BBC.
Romanian law allows detention for up to six months.
Tate’s lawyer tells the British newspaper that Tate will be held in custody until the end of April.
During a detention hearing Wednesday, the brothers’ attorneys said prosecutors had not presented any new evidence.
In the defense’s view, it is the brothers’ celebrity status that helps keep them behind bars.
Tate’s defenders have long pointed out that detention is unreasonable, and that it would be more proportionate to consider other alternatives, such as house arrest.
The judges, on the other hand, disagree – Wednesday’s imprisonment decision is the fourth time the court has extended the custody of the Tate brothers.
The police have searched and seized at least ten properties belonging to Tate, and are said to have seized drugs, video equipment and large sums of money.
The luxury cars Tate ended up in a Twitter war with Greta Thunberg about recently have also been seized.
Emory Andrew Tate III is a former kickboxer, reality TV contestant and influencer, and has received a lot of attention for his controversial views on sexual assault, harassment and women.
He has a large following and many supporters.
