Andrew Tate loses appeal against house arrest in Romania as human trafficking case continues

102

Andrew Tate, a controversial figure on social media and former professional kickboxer, has been unsuccessful in his appeal against house arrest in Romania. Tate is currently facing charges of rape, human trafficking, and involvement in a criminal gang that exploited women sexually. His spokesperson confirmed that the Bucharest Court of Appeal rejected his appeal to overturn the previous decision to keep him under house arrest for an additional 30 days while the case proceeds.

The appeal came shortly after Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, formally indicted Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan, and two Romanian women in connection with the same case. The four individuals were initially arrested near the capital city in late December, and all have denied the allegations against them.

Prior to the final ruling on the appeal, two judges had differing opinions on whether to uphold the house arrest measure. As a result, a third judge was brought in to preside over the ruling. Mateea Petrescu, the spokesperson for the Tate brothers, noted that although they lost the appeal, there was some hope as one judge had ruled in favor of allowing the brothers to move freely within Romania without restrictions for the first time since their arrest.

Petrescu expressed optimism, stating that the brothers believed in the Romanian justice system despite the damage to their reputation. DIICOT had requested an extension of the house arrest measure in June following the completion of their investigation. Under Romanian law, judges have up to 60 days to decide whether the case should proceed to trial, but the process often takes longer.

Andrew Tate, known for promoting conspiracy theories online and accumulating 7 million Twitter followers, has consistently claimed that prosecutors lack evidence against him and that a political conspiracy aims to silence his views. Following the court’s decision, a post on Tate’s Twitter account expressed surprise at the divergent views of the judges and questioned the basis for depriving him of liberty.

In a previous appeal on March 31, the Tate brothers, who hold dual U.K.-U.S. citizenship, succeeded in being transferred to house arrest after spending three months in police detention.

According to DIICOT, the defendants allegedly formed a criminal group in 2021 with the intent to commit human trafficking crimes in Romania, the United States, and Britain. The agency stated that seven female victims were enticed with false promises of love and transported to Romania, where they were subjected to sexual exploitation and physical violence by the gang. One of the defendants is accused of raping a woman twice in March 2022. Prosecutors revealed that the women were controlled through intimidation, constant surveillance, and false claims of debt.

Andrew Tate had previously been banned from several major social media platforms due to hate speech and misogynistic comments, including his assertion that women should bear responsibility for their own sexual assaults. In addition to the criminal case, several women in Britain are pursuing civil claims against Tate seeking damages for alleged sexual violence.

During the course of their investigations, prosecutors have ordered the seizure of the Tate brothers’ assets, including 15 luxury cars, luxury watches, and approximately $3 million worth of cryptocurrency.

Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about house arrest

More about house arrest

• Andrew Tate loses appeal against house arrest
• Romania charges Andrew Tate with rape and human trafficking
• Bucharest Court of Appeal ruling on Andrew Tate’s appeal
• DIICOT indictment of Andrew Tate and others
• Andrew Tate’s controversial social media history
• Civil claims against Andrew Tate in Britain
• Seizure of assets in Andrew Tate’s case