Andrew Tate, a controversial influencer with over 9 million followers on social media platform X, and his brother Tristan are set to stand trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang. The allegations against the brothers include exploiting women via an adult content business that is said to have operated as a criminal group. Seven alleged victims were identified in the indictment published last year.
The Tate brothers were arrested in December 2022 near Bucharest and have denied the allegations. They had previously been held for three months in police detention before being moved to house arrest, but are now able to travel freely around Romania.
Andrew Tate is known for his misogynistic views and was previously banned from various social media platforms for expressing such views. He has repeatedly claimed that there is a political conspiracy against him and that Romanian prosecutors have no evidence against him.
The trial, which does not yet have a set date, comes after the Tate brothers lost an appeal challenging the seizure of their assets by Romanian authorities worth an estimated $3.9 million ($3.1 million). The brothers had argued that the seizure was unlawful and lacked proper justification.
The case has been discussed for months in preliminary chamber stages, during which the defendants can challenge prosecutors' evidence and case file. However, both sides have appealed the latest ruling, with Tate's lead counsel Eugen Vidineac stating that it 'lacks legal basis and reasoning.'
The brothers are also wanted in the UK over allegations of sexual offenses dating back to 2012-2015. The Bucharest Court of Appeal granted the British request to extradite them, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.
This is a developing story.
