(Bucharest) Romanian justice on Tuesday reported “irregularities” in the case of British influencer Andrew Tate and referred him to the prosecution, with a view to a decision on whether or not to hold a trial for trafficking of human beings in organized gangs and rape.
Posted at 6:59 a.m.
Updated at 7:27 a.m.
According to the decision consulted by AFP, the Bucharest Court of Appeal “deems the objections formulated by the defense partly admissible and notes irregularities in the indictment”.
Furthermore, it “excludes” the statements of two alleged victims “from the evidence, due to procedural violations”.
The prosecution now has “five days to modify” its file and “clarify whether it maintains its decision to organize a trial”.
The 37-year-old masculinist influencer was due to appear soon alongside his 36-year-old brother Tristan. The prosecution suspects them of having duped several women for the purposes of sexual exploitation.
After their arrest in 2022 in Bucharest, the Tate brothers spent three months in detention before being placed under judicial supervision with a ban on leaving the territory pending their trial.
Their lawyer, Me Eugen Vidineac, hailed in a press release “a huge victory”, “a crucial step” for his clients, “who have proclaimed their innocence from the start” and were, according to him, the target of “extremely weak” accusations.
According to prosecutors, the victims were trapped by the two men who simulated feelings towards them (the so-called “loverboy” method), before being forced “through acts of physical violence and psychological coercion” to produce pornographic films.
Andrew Tate must also answer for rape, allegedly committed on two occasions.
In another case, he is the target of allegations concerning minors, which have resulted in him being placed under house arrest since August.
The two brothers are also the subject of accusations of rape and assault in other cases in Great Britain where they are also accused of tax evasion.
Romanian justice indicated in March that it was ready to accept their extradition, but only after their trial in Romania, which could take years.
Born in the United States in 1986, former professional kickboxing fighter, Andrew Tate has lived in Romania for several years. Before finding himself behind bars, he said he appreciated “the freedom” and “the fact that corruption is accessible to everyone”.
Banned from Instagram and TikTok for misogynistic comments, he is followed by more than ten million people on the social network X, where he shows off bulging muscles, smokes cigars and fascinates millions of teenagers with his luxury cars .
He promotes masculinist theses and gives his advice to men to help them become rich.
