Andrew Tate appeals for extended detention over human trafficking and rape allegations in Romania

Former kickboxer and misogynistic social media influencer Andrew Tate appeared in court on Tuesday to appeal a Romanian judge’s decision to extend his sentence human trafficking allegations, rape and belonging to an organized crime group. The judge previously granted a request by the Romanian authorities to extend his detention from 24 hours to 30 days.

Tate, who is known for spreading hate speech and misogyny online among his millions of social media followers, was arrested in Romania on December 29 along with his brother and two other suspects.

All four suspects had appealed the judge’s extension, which was granted due to the possibility that they “could leave Romania and settle in countries that don’t allow extradition”.

A verdict on the appeal is expected later Tuesday, Tate’s attorney told the Associated Press. If the court decides to extend the arrest warrant, prosecutors can request a further extension of the detention, up to 180 days.

Tate and his associates allegedly created the Romanian organized crime group in early 2021 with the aim of committing human trafficking in Romania, the US and Britain to “receive important financial gains,” prosecutors said when the group was arrested. They had been under criminal investigation in Romania since April.

The suspects were accused of collaborating “to recruit, harbor and exploit women by forcing them to create pornographic content to be viewed on specialized websites in return for payment,” prosecutors said at the time of Tate’s arrest .

Romania’s organized crime agency, DIICOT, said it had identified six victims who were sexually exploited and subjected to “acts of physical violence and psychological coercion” following raids on Tate’s alleged operation in late December, The Associated Press reported.

A spokesman for DIICOT said authorities had seized 15 cars and more than 10 pieces of land, which “will be taken over by the state and will cover the costs of the investigation and damage to the victims” if prosecutors can prove the group makes money through human trafficking has.