Former world champion in kickboxing Andrew Tate has lost his latest appeal to have his detention overturned because of an investigation into organized crime and human trafficking.
Since the end of January, Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been held in detention in Romania as a result of an investigation into allegations of human trafficking, forming an organized crime group and other charges.
They have been jailed for 30 days and were scheduled for release at the end of January. However, a Romanian court decided that their detention might be extended to February 27.
Additionally, that extension will stay as their latest appeal was denied in the afternoon. Tate came to the Bucharest Court of Appeal on Wednesday morning while being handcuffed to his brother.
The two were notably unkempt when they approached the courtroom, in contrast to their days as social media superstars when they maintained an image as fashionable playboys.
As he was departing, Tate said: “Ask them for evidence and they will give you none, because it doesn’t exist. You’ll find out the truth of this case soon.”
It was decided at their last hearing that the brothers will remain in custody until February 27 while prosecutors carry out their investigation. Tate was previously banned from using a number of well-known social media sites for posting his misogynistic views.
He has argued that the case against him has “zero evidence,” and that it is simply a political attack intended to silence him. A post appeared on his Twitter account on Sunday which stated:
“My case is not criminal, it’s political. It’s not about justice or fairness. It’s about attacking my influence on the world.”
Nearly 100,000 people have signed an internet petition to release the brother. Large groups of supporters have gathered in several major European cities to protest Andrew’s detention and spread the slogan “Free Top G.”
Tate engaged in a Twitter argument with Greta Thunberg just before his arrest. He made a tweet mocking the 19-year-old climate activist.