Controversial social media figure Andrew Tate has been remanded in custody as authorities investigate new allegations against him.
He and his brother Tristan were taken in for questioning by Romania’s serious crime agency, DIICOT, following a police search of their home.
Tate, who is already facing trial for rape and human trafficking, now faces potential additional charges including sex with minors, trafficking, money laundering, and attempting to influence witnesses, according to prosecutors.
The Tate brothers, known for their immense social media presence, have denied all previous allegations.
They were first detained in Romania in December 2022 and were placed under house arrest until August 2023.
DIICOT reported that four properties were searched on Wednesday in Bucharest and Ilfov County, leading to their detention.
Following the questioning at DIICOT in Bucharest, the brothers were handcuffed and placed under armed guard for the journey to custody.
They will remain in custody for 24 hours as prosecutors determine if they will seek an extension of the detention, move them to house arrest, or release them.
When asked about the new allegations, Andrew Tate dismissed the prosecutors’ credibility, claiming they are “desperate” and challenged them to prove their evidence.
He emphasized that the new allegations were “more pathetic than the first”.
On Wednesday, the brothers encountered a small group of reporters and supporters outside the DIICOT building as they arrived in police vans.
Upon entering the building, Andrew Tate jokingly remarked about being back at DIICOT, expressing a lighthearted attitude while police carried bags likely containing evidence from their home.
Their lawyer, Eugen Vidineac, stated that the precise nature of the new allegations is still unclear as he has not yet reviewed the evidence.
DIICOT has 24 hours to question the brothers, after which they must present any request for extended detention to a judge.
Vidineac expressed his belief that the brothers might not be further detained, considering their current restricted movements due to other pending charges.
In response to the recent raid, Andrew Tate expressed on social media that “The Matrix is real” and criticized the tactics used against him, claiming that slander is a primary tool of his adversaries.
Tate, who has been labeled a misogynist, has faced bans from various social media channels for his controversial remarks.
He has consistently alleged that Romanian prosecutors lack evidence against him and that there is a conspiracy aimed at silencing him.
The Tate brothers, former kickboxers holding dual UK and US citizenship, are accused of exploiting women through an adult content business, which prosecutors allege functions as a criminal organization.
Two female associates from Romania were also included in an indictment published last June, with seven alleged victims identified.
Additionally, they are wanted in the UK concerning separate sexual offences allegedly committed there.
