Kathmandu— Romanian prosecutors have indicted controversial social media influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan on charges of trafficking minors, sex with a minor, and money laundering, marking a significant escalation in legal challenges against the duo following their arrest in the United States on UK extradition requests for rape charges.

Legal Charges and Victim Allegations

Romanian anti-organised crime agency DIICOT stated that the Tate brothers recruited victims by falsely claiming to seek relationships or marriage before coercing them into producing sexually exploitative content for a webcam business. One victim was 15 years old when Andrew Tate allegedly seduced her in Britain in 2012, moved her to Bucharest, and used physical violence and psychological intimidation to force her into creating indecent images of children for social media.

Tristan Tate was identified as an accessory, using physical aggression to coerce the victim. Prosecutors revealed the brothers kept $1.25 million from the victim’s earnings, retaining 80 percent of her income, and attempted to launder the funds by purchasing four luxury cars.

Defense and Legal Strategy

Eugen Vidineac, a Romanian lawyer representing the Tates, stated the brothers reject all allegations and will challenge any evidential, procedural, or legal deficiencies through the judicial process. "Our clients continue to reject the allegations against them," he said.

The Tates, former kickboxers with dual US and British citizenship, have built a global social media following, particularly among young men, with content often criticizing gender equality and promoting male dominance. They were arrested in Florida in late July after the UK requested their extradition for rape charges.

Previous Legal History

Romanian authorities initially opened a probe into the brothers related to human trafficking in December 2022, approximately five years after they relocated to Romania. Andrew Tate had previously claimed in online videos that he moved to Romania due to lax law enforcement.

The brothers were previously indicted in Romania on human trafficking charges, but in late 2024, a Bucharest court of appeals sent the case back to prosecutors after deeming some evidence inadmissible, highlighting ongoing legal complexities in their case.

The case now moves to a preliminary court chamber for a judge’s review, with Romanian law allowing prosecution in absentia, though the timeline for resolution remains uncertain.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.