BUCHAREST, Romania — A court in Romania's capital Thursday placed the divisive internet influencer Andrew Tate under house arrest for 30 days, as prosecutors investigate a sprawling new case that involves allegations of human trafficking of minors and sex with a minor. The Bucharest Tribunal's decision came a day after prosecutors detained six people including Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan Tate, 36, after masked police raided four homes in Bucharest and nearby Ilfov county. Tristan Tate was placed under judicial control, which typically involves geographical restrictions and reporting periodically to police.
Prosecutors asked the court to remand the brothers in custody for 30 days. The brothers' spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, responded to the decision by saying the judge denied prosecutors' request due to the brothers' "exemplary behavior" while previously under preventive arrest measures in a separate case, and they firmly deny all of the allegations against them and "remain steadfast in proving their innocence." The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers and dual British-U.
S. citizens, already are awaiting trial in Romania in a separate human trafficking case along with two Romanian women. Romanian prosecutors indicted all four last year.
In the new case, Romania's anti-organized crime agency DIICOT said it is investigating allegations of human trafficking, including the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, forming an organized criminal group, money .