Controversial influencer, Andrew Tate has hailed a ‘major victory’ as a Romanian court ruled that part of the evidence against him and his brother in their high-profile human trafficking case should be excluded.
Earlier today, the court ordered prosecutors to remove part of the evidence collected and gave them five days to decide whether they want to pursue trial or have the case returned.
After hearing an appeal by the defendants, the Bucharest appeals court ordered prosecutors ‘to rectify the irregularities of the indictment and to specify, within five days, whether it maintains the decision to send the defendants to trial’.
Tate was indicted in mid-2023 along with his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects for human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to s3xually exploit women, allegations they have denied.
Tate’s team said the ‘groundbreaking decision’ was a ‘triumph for justice’ and a ‘pivotal moment in their ongoing legal battle’.
The ruling ‘accepted the defendants’ appeals against the decision […] to send the case to court, addressing critical irregularities in the prosecution’s case and affirming significant violations of [their] legal rights,’ they said.
‘This decision comes as a major victory for the defendants, bolstering their longstanding claims of innocence and raising serious questions about the integrity of the charges brought against them,’ the team claimed in a statement.
Eugen Vidineac, lead counsel, said: ‘This is a monumental victory for our clients, who have maintained their innocence from the beginning.
‘The court’s decision to exclude key evidence and demand rectification of the indictment demonstrates the lack of substantiated claims against them.
‘Justice is being served, and this is a critical step toward clearing their names.’
Tate, 37, is currently under house arrest in Romania and is awaiting trial on human trafficking charges along with his brother Tristan, 36, and two Romanian women.