A court in Romania’s capital has rejected an appeal by prosecutors to jail internet influencer Andrew Tate, who will remain under house arrest amid a second human trafficking investigation involving minors. The Bucharest Court of Appeal also ruled to keep Tate’s brother, Tristan Tate, under judicial control, which typically involves restricting communication with certain people and reporting periodically to the police. The brothers’ spokesperson stated that the judge lifted certain restrictions regarding the brothers’ communication with alleged victims in the new case, allowing them to meet and communicate based on their relationships.
Andrew Tate posted on social media that prosecutors had made a “desperate attempt to put us in jail with no evidence” following the court’s decision. The ruling comes after Romania’s anti-organized crime agency conducted raids on four homes, including the Tates’ in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov county. The brothers, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.S. citizens, are already awaiting trial in Romania in a separate human trafficking case with two Romanian women.
The new case involves allegations of human trafficking, including minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, forming an organized criminal group, money laundering, and influencing statements. The defendants are accused of exploiting 34 vulnerable victims using coercive methods to produce pornographic materials online, generating over $2.8 million. An unnamed foreign man allegedly sexually exploited a 17-year-old and had repeated sexual relations with a 15-year-old.
Andrew Tate, known for expressing controversial views online, has denied all allegations and claimed a political conspiracy against him. His lawyer praised the court's decision as a sign of Romania’s diligent and impartial judicial system. The Tate brothers were arrested in December 2022 and held in police detention before being placed under house arrest. They were later restricted to Romania and are awaiting trial without a set date.
In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the prosecutors’ case file met legal criteria for trial. In July, a court overturned a decision allowing the Tate brothers to leave Romania while awaiting trial.
