A Romanian appeals court has ruled that the human trafficking case against controversial influencer Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan, and two Romanian women will not proceed to trial.
The court’s decision, made on Thursday, was based on significant legal and procedural flaws in the prosecution’s case.
The ruling comes two years after Andrew Tate, 38, and his brother, 36, were arrested, along with two Romanian women, on charges of human trafficking and forming a criminal organization to sexually exploit women.
Andrew Tate also faces an additional charge of rape. Despite the setbacks, the court’s decision does not mean the charges are dismissed, as the case is not closed and there remains a separate legal case against the brothers in Romania.
The Bucharest Court of Appeal effectively sent the case back to prosecutors, giving them an opportunity to present new evidence or amend the charges.
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In November, the same court had given prosecutors five days to amend or withdraw the case file, and the court’s latest decision supports the defense team’s request to review the case due to what they claim are serious flaws.
Andrew Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, argued that the ruling confirms the lack of credible evidence against the accused.
She highlighted that the court identified multiple procedural errors in the investigation, including the failure to adequately explain the charges to one of the alleged victims.
The brothers deny all accusations. Following the decision, Andrew Tate reacted publicly, stating, “They threw me in jail, took my money, my cars, and every ounce of my freedom… but I never broke.”
He criticized the prosecutors for failing to build a solid case after years of investigation.
The ruling marks a major legal setback for Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, and raises questions about the credibility of the charges against the Tate brothers.
While the case may not move forward immediately, Andrew Tate remains involved in a separate legal dispute in the UK over unpaid taxes, with a British court allowing authorities to seize over $3.3 million from his accounts.