Romanian prosecutors change charges against Andrew Tate, says “crimes more severe than previously thought”

Bucharest: Romanian prosecutors have announced that the investigation into social media influencer Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan, and two other suspects has taken a significant and serious turn. The investigation, which has been ongoing for a considerable period, has led to the revelation of alarming evidence, resulting in the addition of new charges.

Previously, the suspects were being investigated for human trafficking. However, prosecutors now assert that the offence is even more severe than initially believed, classifying it as "trafficking in continued form." This reclassification carries more substantial legal consequences compared to separate counts of trafficking.

The Tate brothers and the two female suspects are currently under house arrest as part of the criminal investigation, which also involves accusations of rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

The suspects have denied any wrongdoing.

While charges have been filed against the four individuals, the case is still in the investigative stage and has yet to proceed to trial. Prosecutors are expected to request the suspects' trial later in June, after which further legal proceedings will follow.

The Tate brothers and the two female suspects were previously held in police custody. On March 31, a Bucharest court ordered their transfer to house arrest. The decision to change the charge from human trafficking to trafficking in continued form was recently communicated to the Tate brothers by Romania's anti-organized crime prosecuting unit, DIICOT. This modification to the charges carries a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years under Romanian law. Additionally, the case has expanded to include another victim, raising the total number of women involved to seven.

The legal team has expressed satisfaction with the recent changes, stating that they are in the best interest of the suspects and will ensure an impartial investigation. They highlight that revisions to the legal framework are crucial for upholding the integrity of the process.

In a separate development, DIICOT prosecutors have initiated another criminal investigation against a Romanian man named Vlad Obuzic, who is closely associated with the Tate brothers. He is also accused of similar crimes. The accusations revolve around the recruitment of victims through deceptive tactics, such as false promises of relationships or marriage.

According to prosecutors, the victims were then coerced into producing pornographic content for social media platforms, with the suspects profiting from the majority of the earnings. Shockingly, the victims were also forced to get tattoos of the exploiting group member's name or face to ensure their loyalty and compliance.

The ongoing investigation is revealing the gravity of the alleged crimes and emphasising the importance of protecting the rights of the victims.