An appeals court in Romania has ruled that the human trafficking case against controversial influencer Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan Tate, and two Romanian women cannot proceed to trial.
The decision, announced on Thursday, stems from multiple legal and procedural irregularities identified by the court.
The charges, which include human trafficking, forming a criminal gang for sexual exploitation, and an additional rape charge against Andrew Tate, have been under scrutiny since the arrest of the Tates and their alleged accomplices two years ago.
Despite the gravity of the accusations, the Bucharest Court of Appeal found substantial flaws in the prosecution's case, leading to this unexpected ruling.
Mateea Petrescu, spokesperson for Andrew Tate, expressed relief at the court's decision, stating, "The review revealed significant procedural flaws and raised serious concerns about the integrity of the investigative process, further undermining the credibility of the prosecution’s case."
The ruling is seen as a setback for DIICOT, Romania's anti-organized crime agency, which had formally indicted the defendants last year. However, the case remains open, and prosecutors have the opportunity to present new evidence or amend existing charges.
Andrew Tate, reacting to the court's decision, criticized the prosecutors for their handling of the case. "They threw me in jail, took my money, my cars, and every ounce of my freedom," he said. "They made me the biggest enemy on the streets, dragging my name through the dirt with accusations of the lowest, most vile deeds a man can be accused of. But I never broke."
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