A Romanian court has lifted the house arrest of Andrew Tate, a controversial internet personality, replacing it with a lighter preventative measure while the criminal investigation continues, his spokesperson announced on Tuesday.
Andrew Tate and his brother, Tristan Tate, both former kickboxers with dual U.S. and British citizenship, have been under house arrest since August.
They, along with four others, are accused of forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, trafficking minors, engaging in sexual acts with a minor, and money laundering. All suspects have denied the charges.
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A previous criminal case against Tate collapsed in December when the Bucharest Court of Appeals ruled to return the case to prosecutors due to flaws in the indictment. This setback was a major blow to Romania’s anti-organized crime unit (DIICOT).
On Tuesday, the judges allowed Tate’s house arrest to end as part of the second criminal investigation.
“This ruling marks a decisive step forward, granting Andrew Tate the freedom to travel throughout Romania while adhering to the required legal conditions,” his representatives said.
Under the new restrictions, known as judicial control, Tate must regularly check in with the police, cannot leave Romania, and is prohibited from contacting other suspects or witnesses in the case.
The Tate brothers, who are the most high-profile suspects in a human trafficking trial in Romania, are also wanted in the United Kingdom under a British arrest warrant. They will be extradited after the trial proceedings in Romania are complete, as ruled by the court in March.
