A Romanian appeals court ruled on Tuesday that the indictment against influencer Andrew Tate contains significant irregularities, ordering prosecutors to either revise or withdraw the case within a week. The case involves allegations of human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to exploit women sexually.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal’s decision is a major blow to DIICOT, Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, which has been handling the high-profile investigation. The court also excluded certain pieces of evidence, citing procedural issues, and criticized the lack of clarity in the charges.
Andrew Tate, 37, his brother Tristan Tate, 36, and two Romanian women were formally indicted last year, nearly two years after their initial arrest near Bucharest. While a trial was approved by the Bucharest Tribunal in April, a start date has yet to be set. All four suspects deny the allegations.
Prosecutors have not issued a public response to the court’s decision. The appeals court found multiple flaws in the case file, including inadequate explanations of charges to one alleged female victim and improper presentation of charges against the female suspects. The indictment also failed to clarify asset confiscation amounts.
Key evidence, including statements from two alleged victims and testimony from the Tate brothers, was deemed inadmissible, although the court did not specify the reasons.
