Andrew Tate and his brother are charged with rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit woman in Romania: Influencer claims trial is about ‘stealing my wealth’
- Tate – along with his brother Tristan – is currently under house arrest in Romania
- The brothers, along with two women, were being investigated for suspected human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women
Controversial British influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have been indicted on human trafficking and rape charges in Romania.
The brothers – along with Romanian women Luana Radu and Georgiana Naghel – are currently under house arrest after being detained in the country last year.
The anti-organised crime prosecution’s unit (DIICOT) ‘ordered the indictment’ of the four defendants for offences, including ‘setting up an organised criminal group… trafficking in persons… rape’, they said.
According to Romanian news outlet Gandul, DIICOT prosecutors have requested the confiscation of a number of assets connected to Tate, including 15 properties, 15 luxury cars, 14 luxury watches, shares in companies as well as cryptocurrency estimated to be valued at more than $380 million.
Reacting to the news, Tate wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m sure this case has absolutely nothing to do with stealing my wealth.’
A spokesperson for the Tate brothers told MailOnline that while the indictment was ‘entirely predictable, we embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation.’
The four were held in police custody from December 29 until March 31 before a Bucharest court put them under house arrest.
Andrew Tate has also been charged with raping one of the victims, while his brother Tristan has been charged with instigating others to violence. The brothers and female associates have denied all all allegations of abuse and trafficking.
The trial will not start immediately, and could take several years.
Controversial British influencer Andrew Tate (pictured in April) has been indicted on human trafficking and rape charges in Romania, according to prosecutors
The Tate brothers – along with Romanian women Luana Radu and Georgiana Naghel (pictured in February handcuffed and being led into court) – are currently under house arrest after being detained in the country last year
Under Romanian law, the case gets sent to the court’s preliminary chamber, where a judge has 60 days to inspect the case files to ensure legality.
The Tate brothers, former kickboxers who have US and British nationality with millions of online followers, are the highest profile suspects to be sent to trial in Romania for human trafficking.
Prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.
In a statement to MailOnline, a representative for the brothers said their primary focus now ‘will be to establish the truth and ensure a fair and impartial examination of the evidence the legal team will submit.
‘The indictment now allows us to present a comprehensive body of evidence, diligently collected and prepared over time, which will undoubtedly substantiate the brothers’ claims of innocence. Tate’s legal team are prepared to cooperate fully with the appropriate authorities, presenting all necessary evidence to exonerate the brothers and expose any misinterpretations or false accusations,’ they said.
‘We express our gratitude to all those who have stood by us, supporting our clients during this challenging time.
‘We request the media and the public to exercise patience and refrain from making premature judgements until all the facts are presented in a court of law, and respect the basic principle of democracy, the presumption of innocence.#
Last week, DIICOT announced the brothers were being investigated for more serious human trafficking charges.
The officials said the pair – along with the two other female Romanian suspects – were being investigated for human trafficking in continued form, saying it was a more serious crime than separate counts of trafficking.
DIICOT notified the Tate brothers that the human trafficking charge had changed to trafficking in continued form, a DIICOT spokesperson said on June 13.
Under Romanian law, trafficking of adults carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
One more alleged victim was added to the case, which started out with six women, the spokesperson said.
At the time, the Tate brothers’ legal team said the changes were in the suspects’ ‘legal interest’. ‘The legal framework has been revised and altered to ensure an impartial investigation is upheld,’ they said in a statement.
‘The brothers and their legal team consider today’s hearing proves their legal rights are respected and necessary steps are being taken to ensure an objective investigation. They will continue to collaborate with authorities to prove their innocence and restore their reputation,’ the statement added.
Tate (pictured December 29 as he was arrested) was held in police custody from December 29 until March 31 before a Bucharest court put them under house arrest
Andrew Tate (left) has also been charged with raping one of the victims, while his brother Tristan (right) has been charged with instigating others to violence. The brothers and female associates have denied all wrongdoing
News of the indictment of Tate and his associates came a week after a fourth British woman claimed she she was victim of sexual assault by the influencer, alleging the he choked her until she lost consciousness.
The 30-year-old has joined a civil claim for damages against Tate, after three other women said in April that they intended to begin proceedings.
The woman, who was a university student aged 20 at the time of the allegations in 2014, said she met Tate on a night out in his hometown of Luton, Bedfordshire.
She said they had consensual sex but this became violent when Tate choked her, and when she awoke he was still having sex with her, which she did not consent to.
The woman told BBC Newsnight that this was her second encounter with Tate. A few months earlier they had consensual sex.
She said while they were having sex on their second encounter, Tate put his hand on her throat and ‘strangled me’ until she passed out – and that when she came round ‘it was a bit confusing at first’, and he was ‘still having sex with me’.
The woman also said she was subjected to violent threats by Tate, including one to kill her, adding: ‘He kept saying: “I own you, you belong to me”.
‘All throughout the night he was being fairly aggressive and saying horrible things.’
Romanian police officers wait to enter Andrew Tate’s and his brother Tristan’s residence, on the outskirts of Bucharest, Romania, to check if they are present at the location, April 1
A Lamborghini seized in the case against Tate is towed away in Bucharest on January 14
A spokesman for Tate insisted that all sexual acts he had been involved in had been consensual – and that he does not condone violence towards women.
The woman did not report the incident to police at the time, saying she only realised she had been sexually assaulted about six years later when she described what had happened to her friends.
She has now joined three other British woman aged in their late 20s and early 30s as they pursue civil claims for damages against Tate.
They all say they were victims of sexual violence by Tate between 2013 and 2016, when he lived in the UK.
This is a breaking news story. More to follow…
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