By V.E.K.Madhushani, Jadetimes News
Controversial Influencer Faces Legal Troubles Amid Ongoing Investigation
Controversial influencer Andrew Tate has been remanded in custody overnight as Romanian authorities investigate fresh allegations against him. Tate, along with his brother Tristan, was detained by Romania's serious crime agency, DIICOT, following a search of their home. The brothers, who have a substantial social media following, are already awaiting trial on charges of rape and human trafficking. The new allegations include accusations of engaging in sexual activity with, and trafficking of, underage persons, as well as money laundering and attempting to influence witnesses.
DIICOT conducted searches at four properties on Wednesday morning in Bucharest and Ilfov County. Following these searches, the brothers were taken to DIICOT's headquarters in Bucharest for questioning and were later placed in custody under armed guard for 24 hours. According to their lawyer, the Tate brothers will remain in custody until prosecutors decide whether to request further detention, place them under house arrest, or release them.
Upon arriving at DIICOT, Andrew Tate responded to reporters’ questions by criticizing the new allegations, calling the prosecutors "desperate" and dismissing the evidence as "more pathetic than the first." He further claimed that the accusations involved "lover boying" the mother of his children, a term referring to a method of manipulating someone into a relationship to exploit them.
As the brothers were escorted into the DIICOT building, police officers were seen carrying heavy sacks, believed to contain items seized from the Tates' properties. Their lawyer, Eugen Vidineac, indicated that he had not yet reviewed the new allegations and was uncertain of the specifics.
Andrew Tate, who has previously described himself as a misogynist, has been banned from several social media platforms for promoting misogynistic views. He has consistently claimed that Romanian prosecutors lack evidence and that there is a broader conspiracy aimed at silencing him. In response to the recent developments, Tate posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating, "The Matrix is real. And they have a tried and true playbook. Slander is their number one tool and the process is the punishment. But unfortunately for them, Good always wins in the end."
The Tate brothers, who hold dual UK-US nationality and are former kickboxers, are accused of exploiting women through an adult content business that prosecutors allege functioned as a criminal organization. In June of last year, two female Romanian associates were also named in an indictment, and seven alleged victims were identified. Additionally, the Tates are wanted in the UK in connection with separate, unrelated sexual offenses allegedly committed there.
