Andrew Tate loses appeal in Romania over extended detention

Tate, 36, his brother Tristan, 34, and two Romanian female suspects, one a former police officer, were arrested in December on suspicion of human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group to exploit women. All have denied wrongdoing.

That decision was upheld by the Bucharest court of appeal on Wednesday after a brief hearing for which the Tate brothers arrived in a police van handcuffed together, with Andrew proclaiming his innocence to waiting reporters. Neither has yet been charged.

Prosecutors launched their investigation last March after one of the brothers allegedly raped a trafficked woman. The brothers are accused of recruiting their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a romantic relationship.