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A court in Romania has ruled that a human trafficking case against controversial influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate cannot proceed to trial as it stands.
On Thursday, the Court of Appeal in Bucharest upheld the brothers’ appeal, sending the case back to the prosecutor’s office for further consideration.
This is the second time the court has returned the case to the prosecution, which now has five days to change or drop the charges.
The Tate brothers, who are 38 and 36 years old, are accused of human trafficking and forming an organized group to sexually exploit women. They vehemently deny the allegations.
In November, the same court found “violations” in the charges against them, requiring the prosecution to amend its statement.
At the time, the court also removed several pieces of evidence, finding some of the alleged victims’ statements inadmissible.
The brothers’ successful appeal on Thursday marks another setback for prosecutors.
They accused the dual British and US citizens of exploiting women through an adult content business that allegedly operated as a criminal enterprise.
Two Romanian accomplices were also named in an indictment released last June that named seven alleged victims.
Andrew Tate is a misogynist and has previously been banned from social media for expressing such views.
The former kickboxer has gained millions of followers on the Internet, where he often mixes political messages with displays of a flamboyant lifestyle.
He has been living in Romania for several years after previously being in the UK.
After the ruling in his favor on Thursday, he released a statement saying: “They have had years to build their case – years to tear my life apart, target everyone I know and even subpoena the mother of my child. And yet, they have nothing.”
He added: “It’s all a lie and I will fight to the very end to expose it and prove my innocence.”
His brother Tristan said: “If there isn’t enough evidence to go to trial after all these years, that means there never was enough evidence.”
Romania’s public prosecutor’s office, known as DIICOT, has yet to comment on the ruling.
In August, he said he had opened a second criminal investigation against the Tate brothers on new charges of trafficking minors, sex with minors and money laundering.
In the same month, a Romanian judge placed Andrew Tate under house arrest, while his brother was placed under special judicial supervision.
UK police are also seeking the extradition of the Tate brothers over allegations of rape and human trafficking. The Tate brothers deny the allegations.
In the UK, they are also accused of tax evasion. Police can seize more than £2 million from the Tate brothers for failing to pay tax on £21 million in profits from their internet business, a British court ruled on Wednesday.
