The masculinist influencer Andrew Tate, followed by millions of Internet users, has been indicted in Romania for human trafficking in an organized gang, the justice suspecting him of having deceived several women for the purpose of sexual exploitation.
According to a source close to the case, the 36-year-old American-British is also accused of acts of rape, committed twice.
Formulated on June 15, the list of charges is long and also concerns his 34-year-old brother, Tristan, said the prosecution in charge of the fight against organized crime (DIICOT).
The two men, who claim their innocence, are suspected of having formed a network in early 2021 in Romania, as well as in the United States and the United Kingdom.
According to the prosecutors, the victims were tricked by the Tate brothers, who feigned feelings towards them (the so-called “loverboy method”), before being forced “by acts of physical violence and psychological coercion” at the production of pornographic films, detailed the prosecutors.
“Defend their reputation”
Taken to accommodation near the capital Bucharest, they were subjected to “intimidation, constant surveillance and control”.
The videos were then broadcast on platforms, allowing members of the network to derive “significant financial benefits”, says the prosecution, which is also investigating money laundering.
Among the seven women identified by the investigators, three are civil parties.
Two Romanians, who had been arrested at the same time, were also indicted. The local press had presented them as Andrew Tate’s girlfriend and an ex-police officer.
Reacting to this “predictable” announcement paving the way for a trial, the brothers said they wanted to “seize this opportunity to demonstrate their innocence and defend their reputation”, in a statement sent to the media.
“Our main objective will be to establish the truth, […] to present a full body of evidence,” their defense team added, saying they were “ready to cooperate fully with the relevant authorities.”
A hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at the Bucharest court in the presence of the two accused.
Luxury cars and watches
Andrew and Tristan Tate, who are also being prosecuted for “fraudulent access to a computer system”, have been under house arrest near Bucharest since the end of March in connection with this case, after three months in pre-trial detention.
After having started an erotic videochat activity in the United Kingdom, they had settled several years ago in this Eastern European country, known for its camgirls. Before his arrest, the influencer said he appreciated “the freedom” and “the fact that corruption is accessible to all”.
Many items belonging to them, including a collection of 15 cars and luxury watches, have been seized in recent months and placed under seal, along with sums of money.
Sixteen telephones and computer equipment were also found in the various places searched, including several properties of the two brothers.
Andrew Tate is also the subject of sexual violence charges in the United Kingdom, for facts dating back to 2013-2016.
He first became known by participating in the reality show Big Brotherin the United Kingdom, in 2016. But he was quickly eliminated after the broadcast of a video showing him hitting a woman.
He then turned to social media where he shows off his bulging muscles, smoking cigars, mesmerizing millions of teenagers with his luxury cars.
He promotes masculinist theses and gives advice to men to help them become rich. His name is one of the most searched on Google.
He has been suspended in the past from several social networks for misogynistic remarks. His Twitter account, now followed by nearly seven million subscribers, was restored when billionaire Elon Musk bought the social network.