---
title: "Ex-kickboxer Andrew Tate says Romanian prosecutors have no evidence against him"
description: "BUCHAREST, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Divisive internet personality Andrew Tate said on Wednesday there was no justice in Romania and that the case file against him in a criminal investigation for alleged human trafficking and rape was empty."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Andrew Tate"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2023-01-25-ex-kickboxer-andrew-tate-says-romanian-prosecutors-have-no-evidence-against-him/"
published: "2023-01-25T14:05:49"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 336
---

# Ex-kickboxer Andrew Tate says Romanian prosecutors have no evidence against him

> BUCHAREST, Jan 25 (Reuters) - Divisive internet personality Andrew Tate said on Wednesday there was no justice in Romania and that the case file against him in a criminal investigation for alleged human trafficking and rape was empty.

By Reuters · Published 25 January 2023, 16:05 SAST

## Key points
- Former professional kickboxer and dual British-American citizen Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan, and two Romanian female suspects have been in police custody since the end of December 2020. On Thursday, a Romanian court extended their detention until February 27th 2021 as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into the formation of a criminal gang for sexual exploitation of women - an accusation which all parties deny. Prosecutors allege that the Tate brothers recruited victims through false claims of relationships or marriage before taking them to properties on Bucharest's outskirts and using physical and mental intimidation to sexually exploit them. Furthermore, Andrew Tate is accused of rape which he has denied. In response to these allegations, both brothers have maintained their innocence, with Tristan claiming authorities are attempting to steal his cars and money. Additionally, 18 million lei ($3.99 million) worth of goods and money were seized by authorities earlier this month as part of the investigation. Andrew Tate gained notoriety for misogynistic remarks that got him banned from major social media platforms, though his Twitter account was reinstated in November following Elon Musk's acquisition of the company.
- Andrew Tate, his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects have been in police custody since Dec. 29 pending an investigation into forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
- A Romanian court extended their detention until Feb. 27.
- Prosecutors allege that the victims were taken to properties on the outskirts of Bucharest and forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites.
- Andrew Tate has gained notoriety for misogynistic remarks, and has said he moved to Romania because he liked living in countries where corruption was accessible to everybody.

## Content

Tate, his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects have been in police [custody](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N33V1A9&linkedFromStory=true) since Dec. 29 pending an ongoing criminal investigation on charges of forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women, accusations they deny.

On Thursday, a Romanian court [extended](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N3450X5&linkedFromStory=true) their detention until Feb. 27. Prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.

The victims were then taken to properties on the outskirts of the capital Bucharest and through physical violence and mental intimidation were sexually exploited by being forced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gain, prosecutors said.

They also said Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer who holds U.S. and British nationality, raped one of the victims in March last year, which he had denied.

"They know we have done nothing wrong," Tate told reporters as he was brought in for further questioning by anti-organised crime prosecutors, the first comments made to the media since his arrest. "This file is completely empty. Of course it's unjust, there is no justice in Romania unfortunately."

Asked whether he has hurt women, Tate said: "Of course not."

Earlier this month, Romanian authorities said they had [seized](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AL1N34006E&linkedFromStory=true) goods and money worth 18 million lei ($3.99 million), including luxury cars and properties as a part of the investigation.

"There is no evidence against me," Tristan Tate told reporters on Wednesday. "The authorities are planning to steal my cars and steal my money. That is why I am in jail."

Prosecutors have said the seizure was meant to prevent the assets being sold or concealed.

Andrew Tate gained mainstream notoriety for misogynistic remarks that got him banned from all major social media platforms, although his Twitter account was reinstated in November after Elon Musk acquired the social media giant.

He has said he moved to Romania because he liked living in countries where corruption was accessible to everybody.

(Reporting by Luiza Ilie and Octav Ganea; editing by Nick Macfie)