Andrew Tate freed from house arrest after months locked up as judge rules in his favour | Other | Sport
Andrew Tate has been released from house arrest after winning his appeal but will not be allowed to leave Romania following rape and sex trafficking charges. The influencer has not been able to leave his home for over six months.
Tate and his brother Tristan, as well as two Romanian women, were released on Friday under judicial control. They are ordered to face trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
Tate was arrested in December of last year and placed behind bars before it was ruled that he would be on house arrest in March. He resided with his brother at their mansion in Bucharest and has remained very active on social media throughout that time.
The pair can now move freely around the Romanian capital and also the surrounding Ilfov area. They must report to the police when ordered to and inform them of any change of address if they move house.
The brothers are also banned from contacting the two aforementioned associates, the witnesses and the alleged victims and their familiars. Failure to comply with the rules may lead to them being placed back under house arrest. A judge will keep check on their compliance over the next 60 days.
After the news of their release, Tate tweeted: “After 10 months. 3 in jail, 7 at home. After 15million euro of asset seizures. After an inditement 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. Alhamdulillah.”
On Thursday, prior to the ruling, Tate tweeted to his 7.5million followers: “I still have not left my house. I have been forced to remain in the house (or a jail cell) since December 29 of last year. Think of all the places you have been since Christmas. I’ve been nowhere. Today I go to court to see if that changes.”
Tate gained an initial following from being a kickboxer, where he claims to have a 43-9 record, though he has also competed in MMA. The now-social media influencer was expected to return to the ring prior to his arrest after a war of words online saw a bout with either Jake or Logan Paul sounded out. Tristan also competed but his career was cut short after sustaining an injury in a car crash.