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Andrew Tate will be extradited to the UK to face allegations of sexual aggression after his Romanian trial proceedings have concluded, a court has ruled.
Bedfordshire Police said the force has obtained a European arrest warrant and is working with authorities in Romania.
Controversial influencer Tate, 37, and his brother Tristan, 35, were detained on Tuesday after the UK authorities issued a warrant for charges dating from 2012 to 2015.
Appearing at Bucharest Court of Appeal, a judge approved their extradition for when their trial for separate offences of rape and human trafficking ends. They have both been released from police custody following the hearing.
It comes after lawyers representing four women who accuse Tate of rape and sexual assault wrote to UK police to request his detention over fears he would flee Romania.
Andrew Tate and his brother being escorted into the court hearing
A statement from law firm McCue Jury & Partners, the lawyers acting on behalf of Tate’s British accusers, said: “Last week, we received information that Tate might have been planning to flee Romania, where he is due to stand trial for separate allegations of rape and human trafficking.
It is believed this may have been sparked by comments made by blogger Adin Ross, who told his followers during a Kick live stream on 5 March that he had received a text from Tate, who told him he was leaving Romania for good.
In response, a spokesperson for the Tate brothers said they “unequivocally deny” accusations that they intended to abscond to evade judicial proceedings, adding they were committed to participating in the legal process.
A police officer escorts Andrew Tate from the appeal court in Bucharest, Romania
“We believe this rumour has originated from a popular online influencer who misconstrued a text message from our clients while streaming live. There is simply no truth to it,” their spokesperson said.
The law firm representing the four women said the accusations were the subject of an investigation by Hertfordshire Constabulary closed in 2019, with the Crown Prosecution Service deciding against pursuing charges.
The women announced last year they were preparing to sue Tate in London’s High Court and launched a campaign page, which said it was their “one remaining route to hold him accountable”.
It is understood the current arrest warrant, issued by Westminster Magistrates’ Court, relates to other alleged offences being investigated by Bedfordshire Police.
In a short statement issued on Tuesday, the Tates’ representative said: “This bewildering revival of decade-old accusations has left the Tate brothers dismayed and deeply troubled.
“They categorically reject all charges and express profound disappointment that such serious allegations are being resurrected without substantial new evidence.
Both Tate and his brother ‘categorically deny’ the allegations
“The Tate brothers assert that the timing and circumstances surrounding the reappearance of these allegations raise serious questions about the motives behind this legal action.
“The suggestion that Mr Tate’s rise to fame may have played a role in these developments adds another layer of distress and concern.”
While his lawyer spoke to reporters outside of court, Tate has only tweeted on the platform Twitter/X: “The Matrix is afraid, but I only fear God.” The “Matrix” is a term that he uses to refer to a supposed wide-ranging conspiracy targeting men.
The Tate brothers are also charged with rape, human trafficking and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women in a separate case in Romania after being arrested in the country’s capital in December 2022 alongside two Romanian women.
They have denied the charges and are awaiting trial, with Tate winning an appeal in August 2023 to be released from house arrest. Both brothers are now able to travel within Romania but cannot leave the country, with their recent request to visit their hospitalised mother in the UK turned down.
In January, a Romanian court also overturned a decision to seize their assets, which included 15 supercars, more than 10 properties and 14 designer watches.
Former kickboxer Tate has attracted millions of followers in recent years by styling himself as the “king of toxic masculinity” on social media.
He has since been banned from certain platforms including Facebook and Instagram for espousing misogynistic views, which included that women were the property of their husbands.
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2024-03-12 17:52:01Z
CBMiYWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmluZGVwZW5kZW50LmNvLnVrL25ld3MvdWsvY3JpbWUvYW5kcmV3LXRhdGUtZXh0cmFkaXRlZC11ay1yb21hbmlhLWNvdXJ0LWIyNTExMzkxLmh0bWzSAQA
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