BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — A court in Romania has delivered a significant blow to prosecutors in the case against social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate. The Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled on Tuesday that there were multiple irregularities in the indictment related to alleged human trafficking, rape, and the formation of a criminal gang to exploit women for sex. Prosecutors have been given less than a week to amend or withdraw their case.
This ruling represents a major setback for Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, which must respond within five days. The appeals court highlighted serious flaws in the case, indicating that prosecutors did not sufficiently explain the charges to one alleged female victim and failed to properly present the accusations against the two Romanian women involved. Furthermore, the indictment lacked specific details regarding asset confiscation tied to the case.
As part of the ruling, the court ordered the exclusion of certain evidence, including witness statements from two alleged victims and statements from Andrew and Tristan Tate, which were deemed inadmissible without explanation.
After the court’s decision, Andrew Tate, a former kickboxer with a significant online following of over ten million on the platform X, expressed his views, saying: “The prosecution knew they were lies. We knew they were lies.” His comments reflect the brothers’ ongoing denial of all charges against them.
In a separate development, in August, DIICOT initiated a second investigation into the Tate brothers, focusing on allegations that include human trafficking, trafficking minors, sexual relations with a minor, influencing statements, and money laundering. The Tates continue to deny these new charges as well. It is important to note that Tuesday’s ruling does not influence this second case.
The case dates back nearly two years when Andrew, 37, and Tristan, 36, were arrested alongside two Romanian women near Bucharest. Last year, prosecutors formally indicted all four individuals, and in April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that a trial could begin, though no date was set.
Additionally, in March, the Tate brothers faced a separate case at the Bucharest Court of Appeal after British authorities sought arrest warrants linked to allegations of sexual assault in the UK from 2012 to 2015. While the Romanian court accepted the British extradition request, it stipulated that the process would only commence following the conclusion of legal proceedings in Romania.
“This is a monumental victory for our clients, who have maintained their innocence from the beginning,” commented Eugen Vidineac, one of the attorneys representing the Tates. “The court’s decision to exclude key evidence and demand rectification of the indictment demonstrates the lack of substantiated claims against them.”
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the prosecutors regarding the appeals court’s recent ruling.
