Andrew Tate released from Romanian house arrest, must remain in country

Clyde Hughes
·2 min read
1
UPI
Former professional kickboxer and social media influencer Andrew Tate (L) and Tristan Tate (R) are escorted by police officers on February 27 after a hearing at the Bucharest Court of Appeal. He was released from house arrest on Friday. File Photo by Robert Ghjement/EPA-EFE

Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Controversial online self-help personality Andrew Tate was released with his brother from a Romanian jail on Friday but has to remain in the country.

Tate, 36, brother Tritian, 35, and two Romanian co-defendants are accused of rape and running a human trafficking ring. They are required to check in with police regularly while staying in the country.

"This positive outcome gives us confidence that more favorable developments are on the horizon and the truth is beginning to prevail," Tate's legal team said. He was detained in December and moved to house arrest in March.

Tate was more pointed about the case against him on social media after his release.

"After 10 months. 3 in jail, 7 at home. After 15 million euro of asset seizures. After an indictment based on nothing. The file was passed to a Judge who has ruled it weak and circumstantial. I have been released from house arrest but must remain within Romania. Now. To the Mosque," Tate wrote on Twitter.

Tate, a former kickboxer turned Internet influencer, has 7.5 million followers on Twitter with 11.6 billion views on TikTok. He was listed as one of the most-Googled people in 2022 with his online rants on male dominance, female submission and wealth.

Romanian law enforcement accused the Tates and their Romanian associates of luring women to the country for long-term relationships but instead forced them into online pornography once they arrived.

A 21-year-old from the United States contacted the American embassy in Bucharest claiming she was held against her will. That resulted in an investigation and finally the arrests. Prosecutors took 15 real estate properties,15 luxury cars along with other items and money during their investigation.

Although Tate has been banned from many social media sites for making sexist comments, third parties have continued to upload his comments on social media, enabling him to engage his large audience.