Controversial online influencer Andrew Tate has been placed under house arrest in Romania following serious new allegations of child trafficking and sexual exploitation.
The Romanian anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, is investigating claims involving 35 victims, including a minor who was just 15 years old at the time.
Tate, along with his brother Tristan, appeared in court. Both brothers have been placed under special judicial control.
This development comes after their home was raided earlier this week, leading to the detention of six individuals, both Romanians and foreigners.
The charges include human trafficking, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements, and money laundering.
However, DIICOT did not specify which charges apply to each suspect. As he left the courtroom, Andrew Tate vehemently denied the allegations, calling the case against him a "stitch-up" and "absolutely disgusting." He stated, "This is a set-up. Thirty of those girls say we have done nothing wrong. Two are the mothers of our children."
The Tate brothers have previously faced accusations of rape and human trafficking and are currently awaiting trial in Romania on those charges.
They were released from house arrest a year ago but were instructed not to leave the country.
These new charges are separate and involve grooming vulnerable individuals and coercing them into creating online pornography.
Andrew Tate's spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, commented on the recent raids, saying, "Although the charges in the search warrant are not yet fully clarified, they include suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering." She did not address the allegations involving minors.
The "loverboy" method, a tactic used by traffickers to groom and manipulate victims by coercing them into romantic relationships, is reportedly involved in this case.
Once emotionally attached, the victim is coerced into exploitation, such as forced prostitution, under the guise of love or a future together.
Andrew Tate, 36, and his brother Tristan, 37, have garnered millions of followers on social media by promoting extreme misogynistic views.
Despite the serious nature of the allegations, Andrew Tate continues to claim that the charges are part of a mainstream conspiracy to silence him. "This file is even more stupid than the first one. Wait till you see.
They say I have lover-boyed the mother of my children. And we’ve tricked them into having kids. Unbelievable," Tate remarked.
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