Disgraced influencer Andrew Tate has been charged with rape, human trafficking, and creating a criminal gang to exploit women. The former boxer was indicted along with his brother Tristan Tate and two of their female associates in Romania on Tuesday.
The Tate brothers were arrested in December last year from their residence in Bucharest after being accused of committing sexual crimes against several women. The two have denied the allegations.
Andrew Tate Charged with Rape and Human Trafficking in Romania
Andrew, 36, and Tristan, 34, are accused of seducing female victims and forcing them into pornography and sharing their videos on social media. Andrew is also charged with the rape of a woman, while Tristan has been charged with instigating violence.
The two brothers, along with their associates, are also charged with forming a criminal gang in 2021 for human trafficking in the UK, USA, and Romania among other countries. After being arrested in December 2022, the group was placed under house arrest in March after a ruling by a Romanian judge.
The accused will appear before a Bucharest Court on Wednesday at 11 am local time. The judge will then set a trial date and decide on their house arrest. As per Romanian law, the trial will begin after 60 days as the case will be first sent to a preliminary chamber, where the judge will study the files.
Andrew and Tristan’s Team Denies the Allegations
Following the indictment, Andrew and Tristan’s team released a statement denying the allegations. Their media team said, “While this news is undoubtedly predictable, will embrace the opportunity to fight in court and present arguments and evidence to prove their innocence.”
They added that the indictment allows them to ‘present a comprehensive body of evidence, diligently collected and prepared over time, which will undoubtedly substantiate the brothers’ claims of innocence.’
“Our main objective will be to establish the truth and ensure a fair and impartial legal approach by presenting evidence and proof relevant to the case. The referral of the case for trial will allow us to present a comprehensive body of evidence, diligently gathered and prepared over time, which will undoubtedly be essential in exonerating the defendants,” stated the team.
Andrew Tate is Infamous for His Misogynistic Acts
Over the last few years, Tate has consistently made headlines for his misogynistic comments and actions. In 2016, he was kicked out of the British reality show Big Brother after a video of him attacking a woman surfaced online.
However, he continued to gain popularity on social media, where he showed off his extravagant lifestyle and maintained a hypermasculine image. Meanwhile, teachers and parents from around the globe remained concerned about the influencer’s impact on their teenage boys.
Tate’s social media accounts were eventually banned after being reported thousands of times. Last year, his Twitter account was taken down after he stated that ‘women should bear some responsibility for being sexually assaulted.’ However, it was reinstated once Elon Musk took over as the CEO of the platform.
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