BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — On Thursday, a Romanian appeals court made a significant ruling regarding the human trafficking case against influencer Andrew Tate, his brother Tristian Tate, and two Romanian women. The court determined that the case could not proceed to trial due to numerous legal and procedural flaws attributed to the prosecutors involved.
This ruling comes after nearly two years since the Tates, aged 38 and 36 respectively, along with the two women, were arrested on serious charges of human trafficking and forming a criminal gang aimed at sexually exploiting women. Andrew Tate also faces an additional rape charge.
Despite the setback for Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, the court’s decision does not imply that the Tates and their co-defendants are free. The case remains open, and there is an ongoing separate legal proceeding against the Tate brothers in Romania.
The appeals court has effectively returned the case to the prosecutors, allowing them the opportunity to present new evidence or revise the existing charges. In a previous ruling, the same court had given prosecutors a five-day window to modify their case file or else withdraw it entirely.
The initial request for the appeal came from the defense team representing Tate. His spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, commented that the court’s ruling “confirms the lack of credible evidence or consistency in the accusations” leveled by the prosecutors.
“The review unveiled significant procedural issues and raised serious doubts about the integrity of the investigative process, further weakening the prosecution’s case validity,” she stated.
In late 2022, Romanian prosecutors officially indicted the Tate brothers along with the two Romanian women. Earlier this year, the Bucharest Tribunal indicated that a trial could commence but did not establish a specific date. All four accused individuals have categorically denied the charges against them.
Following Thursday’s verdict, Andrew Tate expressed his frustration, stating that prosecutors “had years to build their case” against him and yet “they have nothing.” He highlighted the toll on his life, saying, “They threw me in jail, seized my possessions, and stripped away my freedom, vilifying me with the most heinous accusations a person can endure.”
“But I never broke,” he added, conveying resilience amidst the turmoil.
In its November ruling, the appeals court had ordered the removal of certain evidence, including witness statements from two alleged victims and the statements provided by the Tate brothers, which were deemed inadmissible. The court identified several deficiencies in the prosecution’s case, alleging that the charges against Andrew were not properly explained to one of the alleged female victims and that the indictments against the two female suspects lacked clarity.
Additionally, the indictment was criticized for failing to specify the amounts concerning the confiscation of assets involved in the case.
As of now, there has been no immediate response from the prosecutors regarding Thursday’s decision. However, legal representative Eugen Vidineac lauded the ruling as “a significant legal victory,” asserting that it correctly found insufficient grounds to move forward with the case.
Vidineac remarked, “This decision showcases the strength of our legal system and the integrity of its judges. Let it serve as a warning to those who attempt to manipulate the truth: Andrew and Tristan Tate will not be silenced, nor will the truth be obscured.”
Andrew Tate, who boasts a following of over 10 million on the social media platform X, has continuously claimed that Romanian prosecutors lack evidence against him and that there exists a political conspiracy trying to curb his voice.
In a related development, a British court ruled on Wednesday that, in a separate matter involving the Tate brothers, police could seize over 2.6 million pounds ($3.3 million) for years of unpaid taxes owed by the pair. Andrew Tate characterized this action by the U.K. government as “outright theft,” suggesting it was a “coordinated attack on anyone daring to challenge the system.”
Moreover, in August, Romania’s DIICOT initiated another case against the Tate brothers, probing into allegations ranging from human trafficking and the trafficking of minors to sexual relations with minors, influencing statements, and money laundering. The brothers have also denied these new allegations.
Earlier this year, the Tate brothers were summoned to appear at the Bucharest Court of Appeal due to arrest warrants issued by British authorities concerning allegations of sexual aggression dating back to 2012-2015. While the appeals court agreed to extradite the brothers, it stated that this would occur only after the legal processes in Romania are concluded.
After their initial arrest in December 2022, the Tate brothers were held for three months before being transferred to house arrest. They later faced restrictions on their movement, first within the Bucharest municipality and nearby Ilfov county, and subsequently throughout Romania.
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McGrath reported from Warwick, England.
