A Romanian court has ordered internet personality Andrew Tate to be placed under house arrest following his recent detention in connection with a human trafficking and sexual exploitation investigation.
The court’s decision, announced on Thursday, comes after Tate, his brother Tristan, and four others were initially taken into custody by Romania’s anti-organized crime agency DIICOT for a 24-hour period.
The authorities had sought to keep the Tate brothers detained for 30 days, but the judge instead ruled that Andrew Tate would be placed under house arrest, while his brother Tristan would remain under judicial supervision. According to their representative, Mateea Petrescu, the Tates have welcomed the decision and continue to deny all allegations against them, insisting that the accusations lack substantial evidence.
This development follows a previous indictment in mid-2023 against the Tate brothers and two Romanian female suspects for human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal group to exploit women. They have consistently denied these charges. Before the latest arrest, the brothers were under a travel ban, restricting their movement within Romania but preventing them from leaving the country.
DIICOT’s recent investigation accuses the suspects of crimes including human trafficking, trafficking minors, forming an organized criminal group, and money laundering. The agency claims that two of the suspects used the “loverboy” method to manipulate 34 victims into producing pornography, generating significant profits. One of the defendants is also accused of forcing a 17-year-old to make pornography and repeatedly engaging in sexual relations with a 15-year-old.
Andrew Tate, known for his controversial and misogynistic views, gained widespread attention online by promoting a hyper-masculine lifestyle, drawing both criticism and a large following.