Romania court lifts Andrew Tate's house arrest order

Romania court lifts Andrew Tate's house arrest order

Entertainment

Romania court lifts Andrew Tate’s house arrest order

(AFP) - As the men await trial on allegations of human trafficking, a Romanian court on Friday revoked a home arrest order placed on controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother.

Tate, a self-described misogynist with a sizable online following, has also been charged with rape and organising a gang to engage in sexual exploitation of women.

According to the court's decision, "the preventive measure of judicial control, for a period of 60 days, from 4 August 2023 to 2 October 2023, replaces the measure of house arrest of the defendants."

Tate, his brother, and two accomplices must appear before the police and are forbidden from leaving the greater Bucharest area without permission.

The two Romanian ladies who are also charged in the case cannot meet with the Tate brothers.

All four accused were detained late last year and then placed under house arrest at the end of March. They have repeatedly challenged the house arrest order.

A trial date has not yet been set.

Prosecutors allege the two brothers and the two women set up a criminal organisation and sexually exploited several victims “through acts of physical violence and psychological coercion”.

The victims were allegedly forced to engage in pornographic acts with a view to producing and disseminating such material via social media platforms.

Tate moved to Romania years ago after first starting a webcam business in the UK.

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, Tate’s videos have made him one of the world’s best-known influencers.