Romanian prosecutors are asking a court docket in Bucharest to remand in custody the controversial web influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan as they examine new and critical allegations, together with intercourse with a minor and trafficking underage individuals.
The 2 males appeared in court docket on Thursday afternoon.
The brand new investigation entails a complete of 35 alleged victims, together with a lady who was 15 on the time.
In an announcement, Romania’s company towards organised crime, DIICOT, mentioned six folks had been detained in whole, each Romanians and foreigners.
The assertion says the accused had been grooming “susceptible” folks, who had been then housed in numerous places and compelled to provide pornographic materials for on-line broadcast.
One of many international males is accused of forcing a 17-year-old international citizen to “carry out sexual acts” so as to make on-line video content material. He’s mentioned to have saved all of the $1.5m (£1.1m) revenue. The assertion doesn’t identify him.
The identical man is accused of repeatedly having sexual relations with a woman who was 15 years outdated once they met.
The Tate brothers have beforehand been charged with human trafficking – and Andrew Tate charged with rape – and are awaiting trial on these prices.
The Tate brothers strongly denied any wrongdoing and deny the formal prices they face. These are new and separate allegations.
After questioning for a number of hours on the DIICOT workplaces, Andrew Tate instructed the BBC on Wednesday evening that the newest allegations had been “pathetic” and that prosecutors had been “determined”. He mentioned they’d “made up so much”.
He additionally mentioned he was accused of “lover-boying” the mom of his kids – a way utilized by criminals to prey on victims’ vulnerabilities after which exploit them.
A infamous misogynist with an enormous on-line following, Andrew Tate has referred on Twitter/X to the case towards him as some form of mainstream “conspiracy” to silence him.
Within the new assertion, prosecutors accuse the brothers of shopping for 4 luxurious automobiles, and registering them within the names of different folks so as to conceal the proceeds of what they describe as their illicit exercise.
In whole, it’s alleged that the accused made some $2.8m via sexual exploitation.
These detained are additionally accused of making an attempt to intimidate the victims and witnesses.
Throughout a 10-hour search of 4 properties on Wednesday, investigators seized money and different gadgets, together with luxurious watches, laptops, laborious drives and paperwork. Additionally they impounded 16 luxurious automobiles.
The Tate brothers had been taken into custody late on Wednesday evening after questioning, together with 4 Romanian residents.
However to carry them longer than 24 hours, the prosecutors needed to deliver them earlier than a decide, and the brothers appeared in court docket hours later.
