Khushboo Malhotra
TW: This article contains mentions of sexual abuse, rape, pornography, and human trafficking.
Romanian prosecutors have filed a criminal indictment against Andrew Tate, charging him with human trafficking, rape, and forming a gang to sexually exploit women.
Who is Andrew Tate?
Andrew Tate is a former champion kickboxer and social media personality, who garnered a vast following by promoting a hyper-masculine lifestyle. He describes himself as a “webcam kingpin” and “king of toxic masculinity.”
Tate faces multiple charges, including sexual exploitation, physical violence, human trafficking, and involvement in an organized crime ring.
According to the Washington Post, the indictment marks the end of the criminal investigation into Tate, his brother, Tristan Tate, and two Romanian associates. The investigation was triggered last year when the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest tipped off Romanian authorities that a 21-year-old American citizen was being held against her will in a property belonging to the Tate’s.
“The injured parties were ‘sexually exploited by group members'”
The Tate brothers and their two Romanian associates were arrested in Bucharest in December. They remained in custody until March 31st before being placed under house arrest, under which they remain.
The prosecutors will now send the case to trial.
All suspects have denied the allegations, setting the stage for an extended legal battle.
What is Andrew Tate accused of?
According to Romania’s anti-organised crime prosecuting unit, the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), two British citizens involved in an “organised criminal group” allegedly “recruited” seven women to properties in Romania using a “loverboy method” — making false promises of a romantic relationship to gain control over their victims.
The victims were allegedly “sexually exploited by group members” and forced to produce online pornography videos through “violence and mental coercion.”
“The injured persons were recruited by the foreign nationals, by misleading them about the intention to establish a marriage/cohabitation relationship and the existence of real feelings of love,” the prosecutor’s statement read.
The victims were then subjected to intimidation, constant surveillance, and the imposition of false debts, prosecutors said.
https://twitter.com/TateNews_/status/1671104246488477703?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1671104246488477703%7Ctwgr%5E10386c40c01a736ec56da432ef8c6f836aa30dab%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.empowordjournalism.com%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost.php%3Fpost%3D43289action%3Dedit
The defendants have been accused of coercing the women into engaging in pornography, which was subsequently shared on social media platforms. Physical violence was used against the individuals who declined to participate in pornographic activities.
Court documents also indicate that one defendant is also accused of raping a Moldovan woman twice in March 2022. Prosecutors alleged that Tate met the Moldovan woman through Instagram, in January last year.
The indictment recommends legal action and sought the confiscation of numerous assets belonging to the accused. These include 15 pieces of real estate in three Romanian counties, 15 luxury cars, 14 watches, substantial sums of currency, shares, and cryptocurrency holdings.
Prosecutors said that further offences — including money laundering, witness tampering and trafficking of minors — are being investigated in a separate ongoing case.
Tate’s Reaction
Andrew Tate has maintained his innocence, claiming that there is no substantial evidence against him and alleging that the investigation is an attempt to curb his influence.
Reacting to the confiscation of his assets, Tate tweeted “I’m sure this case has absolutely nothing to do with stealing my wealth.”
“Conviction in Romania on charges of human trafficking can carry penalties of between three and 10 years”
Tate’s lawyers have argued in closed court sessions that the sex was consensual, according to the court order. Following the indictment, the legal team for the Tate brothers described the moves as “undoubtedly predictable.”
They continued: “We embrace the opportunity it presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation.”
What happens next?
The full indictment has not been made public and the trial will not start immediately. Under Romanian law, the case gets sent to the Bucharest court’s preliminary chamber. There, a judge has 60 days to inspect the case files to ensure legality.
Human trafficking convictions in Romania carry a penalty of between three and 10 years. For rape, penalties can range between five and 10 years. Last year, DIICOT investigated 458 new trafficking cases and convicted 138 sex and labour traffickers.
The legal process is anticipated to span several years, due to the complexity of the charges and the amount of substantial evidence to be presented.
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Image courtesy of EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA from Pexels. Image licence found here. No changes were made to this image.
Khushboo Malhotra
Khushboo is a Twitter Editor at Empoword Journalism. She is an Award-nominated lifestyle and pop culture journalist, writer, and budding entrepreneur aiming to break down the boundaries of cultural stigma and shame attached to mental health and sexual health and bring marginalised topics to light. Send your stories, tips, and press announcements to khushboomalhotrafreelance@gmail.com