Romanian authorities tow vehicles from Andrew Tate’s home after new human trafficking allegations
Aug. 24, 2024, 1:38 p.m.
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BUCHAREST, Romania -- Romanian authorities towed away a fleet of luxury vehicles Saturday from the home of the divisive social media personality Andrew Tate, days after he was placed under house arrest following new human trafficking allegations.
Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan Tate, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.S. citizens, boast millions of followers on social media and are notorious for their misogynistic views. They are currently awaiting trial in Romania, along with two women, on charges of human trafficking and forming a criminal organization to exploit women. Andrew Tate is also facing a rape charge in the same case.
The luxury vehicles, confiscated from their home near the capital, included a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, a Mercedes-Benz, McLaren, and a more unassuming-looking classic red Lada. The seizure occurred two days after Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, conducted searches at four residences in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov county and apprehended six individuals, including the Tate brothers. Officials also seized thousands of dollars in cash, laptops, and data storage devices.
One of the Tates’ legal representatives, Georgiana Popa, informed reporters outside the brothers’ residence on Saturday that the seizures are “legal, but unfounded” and said that it has been contested.
“The automobiles are not (the brothers’) property,” she mentioned, without providing additional details.
The Tate brothers appeared on Thursday at a Bucharest court as prosecutors sought to have them detained. However, a judge declined that request and placed Andrew Tate under house arrest and Tristan Tate under judicial supervision, which generally entails limiting contact with certain individuals and requiring them to periodically report to the police. The brothers’ spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, indicated that the Tates firmly deny all accusations against them and “remain steadfast in proving their innocence.”
In the new case, DIICOT, stated that it is investigating accusations of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, forming an organized criminal group, money laundering, and influencing statements.
The agency also alleged that the defendants employed the coercive “loverboy” method to exploit 34 vulnerable individuals, who were compelled to produce explicit content for a fee online, and that over $2.8 million (2.5 million euros) it generated was retained by the defendants.
DIICOT alleges that an unidentified foreign man also sexually exploited a 17-year-old foreigner. The agency claims he pocketed all $1.5 million (1.3 million euros) generated from the illicit activities. Furthermore, the same individual allegedly engaged in repeated sexual acts with a 15-year-old.
Andrew Tate, who boasts 9.9 million X followers, has repeatedly asserted that prosecutors lack evidence against him and that a political conspiracy is silencing him. He was previously removed from various social media platforms for misogynistic views and hate speech.
Authorities have previously seized some of the brothers' assets.
Following their arrest in December 2022, authorities seized 15 luxury cars , 14 designer watches and cash in several currencies. The total value of the goods, authorities said at the time, was estimated at 3.6 million euros ($3.9 million). In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the prosecutors’ case file against them met the legal criteria and that a trial could start , but didn't set a date for it to begin.
Last month, a Romanian court finalized a decision preventing the Tate brothers from leaving the country while they await trial.
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Stephen McGrath reported from Sighisoara.