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March 31, 2023 | 19:22
Controversial social media influencer and suspected sex trafficker Andrew Tate was released from a Romanian jail on Friday and placed under house arrest.
After losing his first three appeals, Tate was released from a lockdown in Bucharest after winning his fourth challenging a judge’s decision last week to extend his arrest for a fourth time by 30 days, said Ramona Bolla, a spokeswoman for DIICOT, the anti-organized organization of Romania. crime agency
Tate had been jailed since late December on suspicion of racketeering and human trafficking.
The 36-year-old influencer, who has 5.5 million followers, tweeted a simple “:)” in celebration.
Tate and his three alleged accomplices, including brother Tristan, have not been indicted.
Under Romanian law, they could have been detained for 180 days without charge.
Each of the four were granted immediate release in favor of house arrest until April 29, a final ruling that prosecutors cannot challenge, Bolla said.
As the brothers left the detention center on Friday, Tristian told reporters: “Today the judges made the right decision.”
“I respect what they have done for me and they will be vindicated in their decision because I am an innocent man and I can’t wait to prove it,” he said.
The brothers were greeted by supporters chanting “Top-G,” a famous nickname meaning “top gangster” and referred to by many of Andrew’s fans.
Tate, who has lived in Romania since 2017, and Tristian are accused of running an organized crime gang that seduced and tricked women into sex trafficking, with some victims accusing the duo of rape.
At least six victims have come forward alleging “acts of physical violence and mental coercion” and sexual exploitation.
Two Romanian women, Naghel Georgiana Manuela and Radu Alexandra Luana, have also been arrested in connection with the crimes prevented.
The brothers have repeatedly proclaimed their innocence, and Tate has even blamed their arrests on a political conspiracy designed to silence him that he dubbed the “Matrix.”
Tate has tried to recruit lawmakers to help him and tried to intimidate some of his accusers, according to wiretaps of his phone calls sent to the court by prosecutors.
with publication wires
