The Court of Appeals in Bucharest ruled on Thursday that the case against Andrew and Tristan Tate cannot proceed as is, prompting a return to prosecutors for a thorough review. This decision underscores the challenges faced by authorities in building a case against the brothers, known for their provocative online personas and controversial statements.
This ruling marks the second time the court has required the prosecution to re-evaluate its indictment, as irregularities were previously identified in November. Prosecutors now have a five-day window to either amend the indictment or dismiss the charges altogether. The brothers, aged 36 and 38, stand accused of trafficking women through an adult content operation, a claim they vehemently deny.
Both brothers have recently made statements emphasizing their innocence. Following the latest court decision, Andrew Tate accused the authorities of failing to construct a credible case against him, while Tristan suggested that the lack of evidence over several years indicated that there never was any.
The original indictment, made public in June, pointed to allegations involving two female Romanian accomplices and seven alleged victims. Additionally, the Romanian prosecutor's office (DIICOT) announced in August the initiation of a second investigation into the Tate brothers for minor trafficking, sexual offenses with minors, and money laundering.
In the same month, judges imposed house arrest on Andrew Tate, while his brother was placed under special judicial control. The brothers are also facing extradition requests from UK police concerning separate allegations of rape and trafficking and have been implicated in tax evasion linked to their substantial online earnings. The British court recently ruled to seize over £2 million from their accounts related to unpaid taxes on £21 million in revenue.
This ruling marks the second time the court has required the prosecution to re-evaluate its indictment, as irregularities were previously identified in November. Prosecutors now have a five-day window to either amend the indictment or dismiss the charges altogether. The brothers, aged 36 and 38, stand accused of trafficking women through an adult content operation, a claim they vehemently deny.
Both brothers have recently made statements emphasizing their innocence. Following the latest court decision, Andrew Tate accused the authorities of failing to construct a credible case against him, while Tristan suggested that the lack of evidence over several years indicated that there never was any.
The original indictment, made public in June, pointed to allegations involving two female Romanian accomplices and seven alleged victims. Additionally, the Romanian prosecutor's office (DIICOT) announced in August the initiation of a second investigation into the Tate brothers for minor trafficking, sexual offenses with minors, and money laundering.
In the same month, judges imposed house arrest on Andrew Tate, while his brother was placed under special judicial control. The brothers are also facing extradition requests from UK police concerning separate allegations of rape and trafficking and have been implicated in tax evasion linked to their substantial online earnings. The British court recently ruled to seize over £2 million from their accounts related to unpaid taxes on £21 million in revenue.
