In a stunning development for one of Romania’s most high-profile criminal cases, an appeals court has thrown a wrench into the prosecution of controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his co-defendants, citing serious legal flaws in how the case was built.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal ruled Thursday that prosecutors must go back to the drawing board in their trafficking case against Andrew Tate, 38, his brother Tristan, 36, and two Romanian women.
The four stand accused of human trafficking, forming a criminal gang to exploit women sexually, with Andrew facing an additional rape charge.
While the ruling doesn’t let the defendants off the hook – they still face these serious allegations plus a separate legal battle in Romania – it’s a major embarrassment for the country’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT.
Prosecutors now find themselves forced to either shore up their evidence or revise their charges, following up on a November ultimatum that gave them just five days to fix their case file or drop it.
Tate’s camp was quick to declare victory. His spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, painted the decision as proof of the prosecution’s weak case, pointing to “significant procedural flaws” that she says undermine the entire investigation.
Andrew Tate himself didn’t hold back, claiming prosecutors “had years to build their case” but still came up empty-handed. “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.”
The November ruling had already dealt some heavy blows to the prosecution, throwing out key witness statements from alleged victims and the Tate brothers themselves.
The court also highlighted multiple basic errors, including failures to properly explain charges to alleged victims and specify asset confiscation amounts.
Defense attorney Eugen Vidineac celebrated the decision as “a significant legal victory,” warning that “Andrew and Tristan Tate will not be silenced, and neither will the truth.”
But it’s not all good news for the Tates. Just a day earlier, a British court ruled they’ll have to cough up more than £2.6 million ($3.3 million) in unpaid taxes.
Andrew Tate blasted this decision too, calling it “outright theft” and part of “a coordinated attack on anyone who dares to challenge the system.”
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