Ahead of his forthcoming trial, where he will be charged with rape and human trafficking, controversial influencer Andrew Tate will be unable to leave Romania.
Along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects for charges of human trafficking, rape, and organising a criminal gang to sexually abuse women, social media sensation Andrew Tate, best known for espousing sexist views online, was arrested in mid-2023.
Their lawyer added, “They deny allegations the allegations and remain dedicated to clearing their names and reputation in the court of law.”
The siblings had already been let to leave Romania as long as they stayed within the 27-member European Union; their trial date was still to be decided.
The pair cannot leave Romania, though, since Tuesday, the Bucharest Court of Appeal decided to favour prosecutors contesting the ruling.
“We value the court’s ruling as it has been rendered. As they have done thus far, Tristan and Andrew Tate will ultimately follow the Court’s ruling and the responsibilities incorporated in the judicial oversight.
“They keep committed to clearing their names and reputation in the court of law.”
Along with two Romanian ladies, the Tate brothers—dual British-US nationals and former kickboxers—were detained in December 2022 close to Bucharest.
Formally charged in June last year, the four defendants were accused of organising a network to traffic women, claims they all denied.
Additionally accused of rape are Andrew, 37 and Tristan, 36.
Having 9.7 million followers on the social media platform X, Andrew Tate has often claimed that there is a political conspiracy to silence him and that prosecutors lack proof against him.
For misogynistic opinions and hate speech, he was formerly banned from several social networking sites.
“God has made a plan for me, and I am following his decisions,” Tate told Tuesday court reporters.
“Should I get shot in the head, I get shot in the head. Should I be lucky, I get free. Should I stay at home, I will stay home. I’m pleased. None of the processes emotionally connect with me. I am going to obey the law. I am going to honour the Romanian court system. Whatever they decide, I will follow.
After determining the case made the legal criteria, a Bucharest court decided in April that their trial may proceed but did not decide a date for it to start.
The decision followed months of legal case debate in the preliminary chamber stages, a process whereby the defendants may contest prosecutor evidence and case files.
Following their arrest, the Tate brothers spent three months under police custody before being sent to house arrest. Later, they were limited to the Bucharest municipality and the adjacent Ilfov county, then to all of Romania.