Romanian Court Upholds House Arrest for Andrew Tate Amid New Human Trafficking Probe

A Romanian court has upheld house arrest for internet influencer Andrew Tate amid a second human trafficking investigation involving minors. Tate and his brother, Tristan, are restricted but can communicate with alleged victims. The case includes allegations of trafficking minors and producing pornographic material.

A court in Romania's capital on Thursday rejected an appeal by prosecutors seeking to jail divisive internet influencer Andrew Tate. Tate will remain under house arrest amid a second human trafficking investigation involving minors.

The Bucharest Court of Appeal also decided to keep Tate's brother, Tristan Tate, under judicial control. This typically includes restrictions on communication with specific individuals and regular reporting to the police. The brothers' spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, noted that the judge also lifted some restrictions on their communication with alleged victims in the new case.

"They are free to meet and communicate with these alleged victims based on the close relationships they share and the children they have together," Petrescu said, adding that the brothers "vehemently deny all allegations" against them.

After the court's decision, Andrew Tate posted on X, stating that prosecutors had made a "desperate attempt to put us in jail with no evidence.'' This ruling follows weeks after Romania's anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, conducted raids on four homes, including the Tates' residences in Bucharest and Ilfov county. Although briefly detained, prosecutors failed to secure a 30-day custody for the brothers and subsequently appealed the decision.

Andrew Tate, 37, and Tristan Tate, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-US citizens, are awaiting trial in a separate human trafficking case along with two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally indicted all four last year.

In the new case, DIICOT is investigating allegations of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, forming an organized criminal group, money laundering, and influencing statements. The alleged crimes span from 2014 to 2024. The agency claims that the defendants used the coercive "loverboy" method to exploit 34 vulnerable victims, forcing them to produce pornographic materials online for a fee, which allegedly brought in over USD 2.8 million, kept by the defendants.

An unnamed foreign man also allegedly sexually exploited a 17-year-old foreigner, keeping all of the USD 1.5 million made from the criminal activity. This man is also accused of repeatedly having sexual relations with a 15-year-old.

In response to the court's decision, Andrew Tate reiterated on social media platform X that the prosecutors' actions lacked evidence and were part of a political conspiracy to silence him. Known for his misogynistic views, Tate has faced numerous bans from various social media platforms.

One of the brothers' lawyers, Eugen Vidineac, remarked that the court's decision demonstrates that Romania's judicial system is diligent and impartial. "We are looking forward to clearing my clients' names and proving their innocence,'' he added.

Following their arrest in December 2022, the Tate brothers were held in police detention for three months before being placed under house arrest. Subsequent restrictions confined them to the Bucharest municipality and Ilfov county, and later to Romania.

In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the prosecutors' case file met the legal criteria for a trial but did not set a start date. In July, a court overturned an earlier decision allowing the Tate brothers to leave Romania while awaiting trial.

(With inputs from agencies.)