Andrew Tate, brother charged with rape, human trafficking
What's the story
Prosecutors in Romania have charged social media influencer Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan Tate, and their two female associates with rape, human trafficking, and forming an organized crime group to sexually exploit women.
The accused, who have denied the allegations, are now set to face trial.
The brothers were arrested at their home in December 2022 and later put under house arrest in March.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Tate is a polarizing internet figure who gained a reputation for his alleged misogynist views and extravagant lifestyle.
The brothers, former kickboxers, have American and British nationalities and millions of online followers.
Tate earlier said in a now-deleted YouTube video that he moved to Romania because it's relatively easier to evade rape charges. Notably, he is banned from Facebook and Instagram.
Case
Judge to inspect case files for 60 days
Reportedly, a criminal investigation was pending against the accused for the alleged abuse of seven women.
Andrew has been charged with raping one of the purported victims, while Tristan has been charged with instigating others to violence.
As per Romanian law, the case will be first sent to the court's preliminary chamber, where a judge will have 60 days to check its legality.
Details
Tate brothers allegedly lured victims on promise of marriage
The prosecutors said the Tate brothers lured the victims with false promises of a relationship and marriage.
The four accused allegedly formed an organized criminal group in 2021 to carry out human trafficking in Romania, the UK, the US, and some other countries.
The assets of the Tate brothers were seized earlier, including immovable property, cars, and cryptocurrency to the tune of $300 million.
Charges
They could be charged in separate cases: Report
The BBC reported that there are also separate charges still under investigation that could lead to a new case for alleged money laundering and trafficking of minors.
To recall, in 2016, Andrew was removed from the British TV show Big Brother after a video allegedly showed him attacking a woman. He later tweeted that women should "bear some responsibility" for being sexually assaulted.