Romanian police conduct new raids at Andrew Tate's home

Romanian police conducted fresh raids early Wednesday at the residence of controversial internet personality Andrew Tate, who is currently awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. 

The raids, carried out by masked officers, were part of a broader investigation led by Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT. 

The agency revealed that it was searching four properties in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov county, probing allegations of human trafficking, trafficking of minors, sexual exploitation of a minor, witness tampering, and money laundering. DIICOT stated that hearings would later take place at its headquarters.

In response to the raids, Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, acknowledged that while the charges mentioned in the search warrant were not fully clear, they included suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering. Petrescu did not comment on the allegations related to minors.

Dozens of police officers and forensic experts combed through Tate’s extensive property on the outskirts of Bucharest. 

DIICOT emphasised that throughout the investigation, the accused individuals are entitled to procedural rights and guarantees under the Criminal Procedure Code, including the presumption of innocence.

Andrew Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 36, both former kickboxers and dual British-US citizens, were arrested in 2022 near Bucharest alongside two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors formally charged all four last year, but the accused have denied all allegations.

In April, the Bucharest Tribunal ruled that the prosecutors’ case met legal standards, paving the way for a trial, though no start date has been set. This ruling followed months of preliminary hearings where the defendants challenged the evidence and case file presented by the prosecution.

Following their arrest, the Tate brothers were detained for three months before being placed under house arrest. Their movement was initially restricted to Bucharest and Ilfov counties, and later to all of Romania. 

Last month, a court overturned a previous decision that had allowed the brothers to travel outside Romania while awaiting trial, provided they stayed within the European Union. The July 5 ruling permitting their travel within the EU was deemed final.

Andrew Tate, who has garnered 9.9 million followers on the social media platform X and is notorious for his misogynistic views, has repeatedly claimed that the charges against him are baseless and part of a political conspiracy to silence him. 

He had previously been banned from several social media platforms for promoting hate speech and misogyny.

In March, the Tate brothers appeared at the Bucharest Court of Appeal in a separate case, following arrest warrants issued by British authorities over allegations of sexual assault in the UK dating back to 2012-2015. 

The appeals court granted the UK's request for extradition, but only after legal proceedings in Romania have concluded.