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Featured Image Credit: Andrew Tate/Twitter
Topics: News
Stewart Perrie
A spokesperson for Andrew Tate has released a statement on the 36-year-old's behalf following his arrest in Romania.
The controversial former kickboxer was taken into custody along with his brother, Tristan, following a lengthy raid on his property in Pipera.
The Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) is investigating alleged human trafficking, rape and the formation of an organised criminal group.
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No charges have been brought.
"We make it clear that during the entire criminal process, the investigated persons benefit from the procedural rights and guarantees provided by the Code of Criminal Procedure, as well as the presumption of innocence," DIICOT said in a statement.
The Tate brothers will be detained for 24 hours for questioning.
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According to the Daily Mail, Romanian prosecutors believe this alleged criminal group 'sexually exploited at least six women'.
A spokesperson for Andrew Tate told the news outlet: "We cannot provide any details at the moment regarding alleged reports that they have been detained; however, Andrew and Tristan Tate have the utmost respect for the Romanian authorities and will always assist and help in any way they can."
DIICOT says they raided five properties during their operation on December 29.
Authorities are investigating claims the victims were 'recruited by British citizens by misrepresenting their intention to enter into a marriage/cohabitation relationship and the existence of genuine feelings of love (the loverboy method)'.
The agency said: "They were later transported and housed in buildings in Ilfov county where, by exercising acts of physical violence and mental coercion (through intimidation, constant surveillance, control and invoking alleged debts), they were sexually exploited by group members by forcing them to perform demonstrations pornographic for the purpose of producing and disseminating through social media platforms material having such a character and by submitting to the execution of a forced labour."
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Romanian media says the raids were carried out at the Tate property after prosecutors believed they had spotted evidence that the brothers were in the country.
Tate posted a video responding to a tweet from Greta Thunberg and during the clip it's apparent he's ordered pizza from a Romanian restaurant.
News outlet Gandul claims 'authorities waited for the right moment to catch the Tate brothers, who were always out of the country'.
"After seeing, including on social networks, that they were together in Romania, the DIICOT prosecutors mobilized the special troops of the Gendarmerie and descended, by force, on their villa in Pipera, but also on other addresses," the news outlet claimed.