Arabic version: مدعون رومانيون يوجهون اتهامات إلى الأخوين تيت

According to ABC News, Romanian prosecutors have officially indicted manosphere influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan, with Andrew facing charges including trafficking minors, money laundering, sex with a minor and witness tampering. Tristan Tate was indicted for complicity.

Prosecutors allege the brothers recruited victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage, then forced them to produce pornographic content for a webcam business. The brothers, former kickboxers with dual US and British citizenship, have denied all wrongdoing.

DIICOT, Romania’s anti-organised crime prosecuting unit, said one alleged victim of Andrew Tate was 15 when he seduced her in Britain in 2012. Prosecutors said she was moved to Bucharest and sexually exploited through physical violence and mental intimidation, including being forced to create pornographic content for social media sites. Tristan Tate was accused of acting as an accessory and using physical aggression to coerce the victim.

Prosecutors said the brothers retained $US1.25 million from video-chat income generated by the victim, about 80 per cent of her gains, and allegedly tried to launder the money through the purchase of four luxury cars. Their Romanian lawyer, Eugen Vidineac, said the defence would examine the indictment and challenge any evidential, procedural or legal deficiencies through the judicial process.

The brothers were arrested in Miami in late July after Britain requested their extradition, and remain jailed in the United States while a judge considers that request. Romania’s DIICOT said it was not immediately clear whether it would seek their extradition from the US. They can be tried in absentia in Romania, although a preliminary court chamber must first inspect the case files for legality.