Andrew Tate indicted on rape, human trafficking charges in Romania

Romanian prosecutors charged misogynist social media influencer Andrew Tate on Tuesday with forming an organized crime group, human trafficking and rape. His brother Tristan and two different associates have been additionally charged, CBS Information accomplice community BBC Information and worldwide information businesses reported. All of these charged have denied the allegations.

The 4 accused, together with two Romanian ladies, have been detained by Romanian police in December 2022. The Tate brothers have been put below home arrest in March pending a prison investigation.

Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), has accused  the 4 defendants of forming an organized crime group to hold out human trafficking in Romania, the U.Okay. and the U.S. It says seven alleged victims have been recruited by two defendants and misled about their romantic intentions. The alleged victims have been then moved to homes the place they have been intimidated with acts of bodily and psychological violence, and sexually exploited, in accordance with DIICOT.

The company says one of many defendents, who BBC Information named as Andrew Tate, repeatedly raped one of many alleged victims. The BBC stated a Romanian decide had 60 days to examine the case and that the trial would seemingly take years. No begin date for the proceedings was introduced.

Tate, a former boxer and martial artist, is best-known for spreading hate speech, misogyny and violence on social media. He was banned by each Fb and Instagram in August 2022 for violating guardian firm Meta’s insurance policies on harmful organizations and people, and has additionally been banned from posting movies on YouTube. 

He was suspended by Twitter in 2017 however reinstated on the platform after Elon Musk took possession of the corporate final yr.

The Tate brothers’ media workforce stated Tuesday that, “whereas this information is undoubtedly predictable, we embrace the chance it presents to show their innocence and vindicate their repute,” BBC Information reported.

CBS Information’ C Mandler contributed to this report.