A Bucharest court ruled today that the case against influencer Andrew Tate can begin, but did not set a date for the trial to begin, The Associated Press and Reuters reported.
Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, who hold dual British and American citizenships, were arrested in Romania in late December 2022 on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal group for the sexual exploitation of women. Together with them, two Romanian citizens were arrested, writes BTA.
The Bucharest Tribunal ruled today that the prosecution’s case against 37-year-old Tate met the legal criteria, but did not set a date for the trial to begin, the AP reports. Reuters notes that the charges were formally filed 10 months ago.
Tate spokesman Mattea Petrescu said today’s decision would be appealed.
The Tate brothers and their two Romanian female accomplices were sent to trial on 20 June 2023 on charges of forming an organized crime group to recruit, house and exploit women to create pornographic content intended for distribution in profiled sites for a fee. From these activities, the defendants received substantial amounts of money, prosecutors allege. The defendants reject the prosecution’s argument.
Andrew Tate is a former professional kickboxer and influencer known for his misogynistic views. He and his brother Tristan were remanded in custody until April 2023 due to fears they could flee the country. In April of the Tate brothers were placed under house arrest, and in August their remand was commuted to judicial review.
