Controversial internet influencer Andrew Tate has been released from house arrest in a Romanian court, pending the outcome of a criminal investigation, his spokesman said.
Instead, he was placed under judicial supervision, meaning he can travel through Romania “while adhering to the required legal conditions,” the spokesman added.
Tate, 38, faces charges of trafficking in minors, having sex with a minor, and money laundering, along with his brother Tristan. Both have strongly denied these accusations.
The spokesman added: “Andrew Tate and his team remain committed to fully cooperating and seeking justice.”
Tate was placed under house arrest In August, when prosecutors launched a second criminal investigation against him and Tristan Tate, as well as four other suspects, over allegations of trafficking of minors, sexual contact with a minor, and money laundering. They all deny any wrongdoing.
It was the first separate case against the brothers The Bucharest Court of Appeal returned him to the Public Prosecution In December for the second time, saying that it could not proceed in its current form.
In this case, Andrew and Tristan Tate were charged with human trafficking and forming an organized group to sexually exploit women.
They also deny these accusations, as well as those of rape and human trafficking brought against them in the UK, as police seek the extradition of British and American citizens.
A judge in Bucharest had previously said that the extradition request would be dealt with after the case ends in Romania.
The brothers were also accused of tax evasion in the United Kingdom. Last month, a British court ruled that police could confiscate more than 2 million pounds ($2.4 million) from them for not paying tax on 21 million pounds of revenue from their online businesses.
Andrew Tate said the ruling was “not justice” and described it as a “coordinated attack”.
He describes himself as a misogynist and has previously been banned from social media platforms for expressing those views.
A former kickboxer, he has gained millions of followers online and has been living in Romania for a number of years, previously based in the UK.
