BUCHAREST: Social media personality Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan will remain in police custody until late-April pending an investigation into alleged sex trafficking as a Romanian court extended their detention, their legal team said on Wednesday.
The Tate brothers, who have dual U.S. and British nationality, and two Romanian female suspects have been in detention since Dec. 29 as prosecutors investigate them for suspected human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. They have denied all the accusations.
Wednesday's extension, the fourth since they were detained, comes days after the court denied the brothers' request to be released on bail, a decision they have appealed.
Prosecutors, who have argued the Tates posed a flight risk and that they would interfere with the evidence if released, can ask courts to extend suspects' detention for up to 180 days.
"The prosecution did not manage to bring any new element to support extending the preventative arrest measure, we are ... at the same stage we were at the start of this case," defence lawyer Ioan Gliga told reporters.
"The criminal investigation in this case is stalling unjustifiably long."
Lawyers also said they would appeal against Wednesday's ruling.
Andrew Tate gained mainstream notoriety for misogynistic remarks that got him banned from all major social media platforms, although his Twitter account was reinstated after Elon Musk acquired the social media network.
Reuters
Thu Mar 23 2023
Andrew Tate, Tristan and two Romanian female suspects have been in detention since Dec. 29 as prosecutors investigate them for suspected human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. - REUTERS/Filepic
AWANI Ringkas: Cuaca panas luar biasa dijangka berlarutan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
"Ahli Parlimen nak bantah kenaikan gaji? 'Humban' dia dalam PRU akan datang" - Anwar
Anwar berkata pihak yang melontarkan kritikan mengenai cadangan kenaikan gaji penjawat awam tidak sepatutnya bersikap angkuh.
Perkembangan letupan Gunung Ruang, tindakan seterusnya?
Bersama ditalian, Susan Margaret, Ketua Biro Kompas TV Manado.
Pembantu kedai telefon mengaku tidak bersalah sebabkan kematian OKU
Lim Guan Yan membuat pengakuan itu selepas pertuduhan ke atasnya dibacakan di hadapan Majistret Suhaila Shafi'uddin.
Microsoft umum pelaburan AI, awan bernilai USD2.2 bilion di Malaysia
Bersama ditalian, Pengarah Institut Kajian Malaysia dan Antarabangsa (IKMAS) UKM, Prof. Dr Sufian Jusoh.
BPT SPRM berperanan kesan kelompongan, ketirisan dalam organisasi
Bahagian Penyiasatan Tatakelola (BPT) SPRM berperanan menjalankan siasatan bagi mengesan kelompongan dalam tatacara kerja dan mengurangkan ketirisan dalam organisasi.
Pelaburan Microsoft AS$2.2 bilion: Bukti keyakinan global kepada Malaysia - PM
Malaysia menyambut baik keputusan pelaburan dibuat Microsoft bernilai AS$2.2 bilion (RM10.5 bilion).
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata jumlah ini adalah pelaburan terbesar pada satu-satu masa oleh Microsoft setelah 32 tahun bertapak di Malaysia.
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berkata jumlah ini adalah pelaburan terbesar pada satu-satu masa oleh Microsoft setelah 32 tahun bertapak di Malaysia.
Lelaki warga emas ditemui maut di kawasan kebun getah
Seorang lelaki warga emas yang dilaporkan hilang ketika keluar mencari daun palas Isnin lepas, ditemukan meninggal dunia di kawasan kebun getah di Kampung Guar Sanai, Beseri, Padang Besa, semalam.
AWANI Ringkas: Protest bertembung dengan kumpulan pro-Israel
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Banyak usaha Kerajaan Perpaduan bantu masyarakat India - Fahmi
Menteri Komunikasi Fahmi Fadzil berkata banyak usaha dilakukan Kerajaan Perpaduan untuk membantu masyarakat India.
Andrew Tate ditahan di Romania atas dakwaan penyeludupan manusia
Tate dan adiknya, Tristan dipercayai menculik wanita untuk digunakan dalam pembuatan video pornografi secara dalam talian.