A new raid was launched this morning (Picture: Reuters/AFP)
Romanian authorities launched a raid the home of controversial influencer Andrew Tate, who is awaiting trial over human trafficking and rape charges, as part of a new investigation, officials said.
One of the world’s best-known influencers known for misogynist and sometimes violent maxims, Andrew Tate has been accused of having formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 in Romania and Britain, along with his brother Tristan.
They have denied the charges, and a trial date has not yet been set.
Prosecutors allege that 37-year-old Tate, his 36-year-old brother and two women set up a criminal organisation and sexually exploited several victims.
Early this morning, officers ‘conducted a raid on August 21, 2024, at the residence of the Tate brothers as part of a search related to a new investigation,’ prosecutors said in a statement.
The office for organised crime (DIICOT), said that four search warrants were executed, in connection with ‘the crimes of forming an organised criminal group, trafficking in minors’, ‘sexual relations with a minor’ and ‘money laundering’.
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The statement read: ‘Today, the prosecutors of the Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism – Central Structure together with police officers from the Ilfov Organized Crime Service have implemented 4 home search warrants within the Ilfov county and the Bucharest municipality, in – a criminal case regarding the commission of the crimes of forming an organized criminal group, trafficking in minors, trafficking in persons, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements and money laundering.
‘The hearings are held at the headquarters of DIICOT – Central Structure.
The action benefits from the support of gendarmes from the Special Intervention Brigade of the Gendarmerie.
‘Specialist support was provided by the Technical and Forensic Service within DIICOT – Central Structure and the Directorate of Special Operations of the Romanian Police.
‘We make it clear that, during the entire criminal process, the investigated persons benefit from the procedural rights and guarantees provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as the presumption of innocence.’
Tate is known for touting his divisive views (Picture: AFP)
Neither of the statements indicated whether the new charges targeted the brothers.
They were detained in 2022 in Bucharest and spent three months in detention before being released under judicial supervision to await trial.
The brothers also face rape and assault allegations in separate cases in Britain, where they have also been accused of tax evasion.
In 2016, Tate appeared on the ‘Big Brother’ reality television show in Britain but was removed after a video emerged showing him attacking a woman.
He then turned to social media platforms to promote his divisive views.
Giving tips on how to be successful, along with misogynistic and sometimes violent maxims, his videos have made him one of the world’s best-known influencers.
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