In Romania, a raid was carried out this morning at the home of controversial influencer Andrew Tate, who is awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and the formation of a criminal group for the sexual exploitation of women.
The Romanian Agency for Combating Organized Crime (DIICOT) said it was searching four houses in Bucharest and the nearby Ilfov district as they investigate allegations of human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual relations with minors, influencing witness statements and money laundering.
The agency added that hearings will be held later.
Commenting on the raids, Tate's spokeswoman Matea Petrescu said that "although the allegations in the search warrant have not yet been fully clarified, they include suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering" and added that his legal team was present. Petrescu did not comment on the allegations regarding minors.
Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 36, both former kickboxers and British-American citizens who have millions of followers on social media, were arrested in 2022 near Bucharest along with two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors officially filed charges against all four last year. They denied the allegations.
After their arrest, they were held in police custody for three months before being released under house arrest. They were later banned from leaving Bucharest and Ilfov districts, and later from Romania.
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