Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan will both stand trial in Romania as part of an ongoing rape and human trafficking investigation.
The brothers were first arrested in December 2022 and charged with human trafficking, rape and forming an organised crime group to sexually exploit women. After being released from prison three months later, they were formally indicted on the charges in June. A court ruled this Friday that a trial will go ahead, Tate's spokesperson confirmed to The Sun.
Andrew and Tristan have maintained their innocence following accusations that they tricked seven women into sexual exploitation on promises of a relationship or marriage. The brothers and two further defendants are alleged to have formed an organised crime group in 2021 in order to commit human trafficking in Romania.
"The Bucharest Tribunal ruled that evidence against the pair met the legal criteria for a trial but a date has not yet been set for it to begin. Both brothers deny all the charges against them and Tates' representatives have already filed an appeal against the ruling, deeming it unlawful.
Ioan Gliga, attorney for Andrew and Tristan, said: "We reassert our belief in the fairness of the arguments we presented...we are confident that the appeal court judge panel will support us." Andrew and Tristan, who are both dual UK-US nationals, will be extradited to the UK on a European arrest warrant once Romanian legal proceedings against them conclude.
A statement from McCue Jury & Partners, the law firm representing four British women who have accused the brothers of rape, read: "An arrest warrant and extradition request was issued by the authorities in the United Kingdom to Romania in respect of allegations of sexual offences during the same period in which our clients allege Tate raped and assaulted them."
The brothers lost their appeal to recover £10million worth of assets seized by police just 10 days after the European warrant was issued against them. The assets included 14 luxury watches, 15 properties, 15 cars and £440,000 worth of Bitcoin. Both Andrew and categorically reject all new charges against them.
Andrew and Tristan both lived under judicial control in Romania, meaning they were free to leave their homes but not the country. The brothers made several attempts bids to return to the UK after being released on bail which were rejected, including an "emergency visit" last December after their mother suffered a heart attack.