A Romanian court has decided against placing internet influencer Andrew Tate back in jail, opting instead to continue his house arrest while a new investigation into human trafficking allegations proceeds.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal’s ruling also keeps Tate’s brother, Tristan Tate, under judicial control, which involves restrictions on certain communications and periodic police reporting.
The court’s decision comes after Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, conducted raids on several properties, including those of the Tate brothers in Bucharest and Ilfov County. The prosecutors had initially sought to detain the brothers for 30 days but lost that bid. They appealed the decision, but the court upheld the house arrest.
Mateea Petrescu, a spokesperson for the Tate brothers, stated that the judge had removed some restrictions on the brothers’ communication with individuals involved in the case, including alleged victims.
“They are free to meet and communicate with these alleged victims based on their close relationships and shared children,” Petrescu said.
The Tates maintain their innocence and strongly deny the allegations against them.
Following the court’s decision, Andrew Tate took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the prosecutors’ efforts. He claimed the case against him lacked evidence and described the legal actions as a “desperate attempt” to incarcerate him.
The ongoing investigation, which involves allegations of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors, as well as money laundering and organized crime, dates back to 2014. DIICOT has accused the defendants of exploiting vulnerable individuals and generating substantial illegal profits.
The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers with dual British and US citizenship, are also awaiting trial in a separate human trafficking case involving two Romanian women. They were previously detained for three months before being placed under house arrest.
With input from the Associated Press and Newsweek.
