A Romanian court has ruled that social media influencer Andrew Tate will remain in custody for 30 days.
It comes after he was arrested in Romania along with his brother Tristan the suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming an organized criminal group, prosecutors said.
Two other suspects, who are Romanian, were also in custody.
All four will be held for 30 days pending an investigation after a judge extended their initial detention period by 24 hours, said Ramona Bolla, spokesperson for Romania’s organized crime agency DIICOT. .
The four suspects have already appealed the extension, which is unlikely to be heard in court until next week, the spokesperson added.
Commenting on the court’s decision, Tate’s lawyer, Eugen Constantin Vidineac, told reporters: “From our point of view, there is no reason … to take this most drastic preventive measure, but it is the prerogative of the judge.”
In a video of his arrest on Thursday, Tate could be heard saying “the Matrix attacked me” as he was escorted by police.
The controversial internet personality has been embroiled in a Twitter spat with Greta Thunberg this weekthe climate activist mocking him after his arrest.
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Who is the controversial Andrew Tate?
Social media influencer Andrew Tate arrested
Tatea former kickboxer, was banned from Twitter in 2017 for his misogynistic views and hate speech, but was reinstated last month.
He suggested that rape victims “bear some responsibility” for being attacked and described women as “property” belonging to men.
Tate has denied having misogynistic views and accused his critics of “twisting the facts”, although he has also described himself as the “king of toxic masculinity”.
