Key Points
- Andrew Tate was arrested in Romania last year over allegations of human trafficking, rape, and sexual exploitation.
- A Romanian court on Friday overturned prosecutors' request to keep him in police custody.
- Mr Tate and his co-accused, including his brother Tristan, deny all accusations.
This article contains references to rape and sexual abuse.
Social media personality Andrew Tate has been moved to house arrest after a Romanian court overturned prosecutors' request to keep him in police custody.
as prosecutors investigate them for suspected human trafficking, rape, and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.
They have denied all accusations.
"We see the court decision as legal, thorough and correct," Mr Tate's lawyer Eugen Vidineac told reporters on Friday.
He said the brothers were forbidden from contacting witnesses and from leaving the house without approval from authorities.
"We do not yet have the court's motivation, we do not know whether there are other interdictions," he said.
"We're going home," Tristan Tate told reporters in Romania outside the prison.
His brother did not comment.
More than 20 supporters were waiting for them outside the prison, chanting "Top G" as Mr Tate is known among his followers.
Andrew Tate's brother Tristan (right) was also released on house arrest. Source: AP / Andreea Alexandru
, judges have said the Tate brothers posed a flight risk and that their release could jeopardise the investigation.
"All four are getting out tonight," Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for Romania's DIICOT anti-organised crime unit told Reuters.
"The decision is final. The investigation continues."
Asked whether Friday's ruling will speed up the investigation, Ms Bolla said prosecutors have until the end of June to send the suspects to trial.
Under Romanian legislation, prosecutors have filed charges against the four suspects but the case is still under investigation and has not gone to trial.
Prosecutors have said the Tate brothers recruited their alleged victims by seducing them and falsely claiming to want a relationship or marriage.
The victims were then coerced to produce pornographic content for social media sites that generated large financial gains.
Mr Tate, who has been based mainly in Romania since 2017, is an online influencer and self-described misogynist who has built up a following of millions of fans, particularly among young men drawn to his hyper-macho image.
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