By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-11-19 16:26:36 | Updated at 2024-11-19 18:42:12
2 hours ago
A Romanian court ruled today to exclude part of the evidence in Andrew Tate's human trafficking case, giving prosecutors five days to decide whether to proceed with the trial.
The Bucharest appeals court ordered prosecutors to address irregularities in the indictment within the five-day window.
Tate's legal team hailed the decision as a "groundbreaking" and "pivotal moment" in their ongoing legal battle.
The ruling marks a significant development for the controversial influencer and his co-defendants, who have consistently maintained their innocence against serious charges.
Tate was indicted in mid-2023 alongside his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects.
The charges include human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
Andrew Tate was indicted in mid-2023 alongside his brother Tristan
GETTY
Romania's anti-crime agency, DIICOT, has been investigating allegations including trafficking of minors, engaging in sexual acts with a minor and forming an organised criminal group.
The investigation involves 35 alleged victims, including one who was reportedly 15 years old at the time.
All four defendants have consistently denied the allegations made against them.
Eugen Vidineac, lead counsel for the defence, called the court's decision "a monumental victory for our clients, who have maintained their innocence from the beginning."
"The court's decision to exclude key evidence and demand rectification of the indictment demonstrates the lack of substantiated claims against them," Vidineac said.
"Justice is being served, and this is a critical step toward clearing their names," he added.
All four defendants have consistently denied the allegations made against them
REUTERS
The defence team said the ruling "accepted the defendants' appeals" and addressed "critical irregularities" in the prosecution's case.
They claimed the decision raised "serious questions about the integrity of the charges" against their clients.
According to prosecutors, seven women were initially named in the indictment as alleged victims.
The women were reportedly lured with false promises of love and marriage.
Prosecutors claim the victims were taken to buildings in Romania where they were placed under constant surveillance and forced into debt.
They were allegedly forced to produce pornographic content that was later shared on social media.
Police alleged that two Romanian women, including an ex-police worker, acted as the brothers' lieutenants.
The women allegedly helped keep multiple victims like prisoners and forced them to make online porn videos.
The brothers' head of security told the BBC some women had "misunderstood the reality" about potential marriage to Andrew Tate.
Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 36, remain under house arrest in Romania as they await trial.
The brothers, who are dual US-UK nationals, also face separate allegations in Britain.
These include accusations of sexual assault and tax evasion in the UK.
The Tates moved to Romania in 2017, where they established a compound on the outskirts of Bucharest.
Andrew Tate had previously appeared on British television show 'Big Brother' in 2016 but was removed after a video emerged showing him attacking a woman.
He later gained notoriety as a social media influencer, known for his controversial and often misogynistic views.
