BUCHAREST: A court ruled to release controversial influencer Andrew Tate from house arrest where he is awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, placing him under judicial control.
“We’ve been completely innocent since the beginning of this and I have to give absolute faith to the Romanian judicial system for finally making the right decision of letting us free,” Tate told reporters gathered outside his house on the outskirts of Bucharest. “I’m sure in the end we’ll be absolutely exonerated.”
Tate was indicted in June along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects for human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, allegations they have denied.
Under Romanian law, the case is now with the Bucharest court’s preliminary chamber, where a judge has 60 days to inspect the case files to ensure legality. The trial will not start until that process is completed.
The Bucharest Court of Appeals on Friday in a written ruling said it “replaces the house arrest measure with that of judicial control for a period of 60 days from August 4 until October 2.”
Under the new measure, the four suspects can leave the house, but not the capital Bucharest and the surrounding Ilfov county. They must check in regularly with the police. They are also banned from trying to approach the victims.
The Tate brothers, who have dual US and British citizenship, have been under house arrest since April pending an investigation into abuse against seven women, whom prosecutors say were lured through false claims of relationships.
They were initially held in police custody from December 29. The brothers won an appeal in late March to be moved to house arrest after spending three months in a police detention facility.
Tate, a self-described misogynist, has gained millions of fans by promoting an ultra-masculine lifestyle that critics say denigrates women.
Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, had requested in June that judges extend the house arrest measure after the agency filed its criminal investigation.
DIICOT alleges that the four defendants formed a criminal group in 2021 to “commit the crime of human trafficking” in Romania, as well as in the United States and Britain.
Andrew Tate has repeatedly claimed that prosecutors have no evidence against him and that there is a political conspiracy designed to silence him.
Andrew Tate was previously banned from several prominent social media platforms for expressing hate speech and misogynistic comments, including that women should bear responsibility for being sexually assaulted.
Several women in Britain also are pursuing civil claims to obtain damages from Tate, alleging they were victims of sexual violence.
During their investigations, prosecutors have ordered the confiscation of the Tate brothers’ assets, including 15 luxury cars, luxury watches and about $3 million in cryptocurrency.
