Andrew Tate investigated over more serious human trafficking allegations

Romanian prosecutors have upgraded the human trafficking charges they are investigating social media influencer Andrew Tate over.

Prosecutors say that Mr Tate, his brother Tristan and two other suspects are being investigated for human trafficking “in continued form” – saying that it was a more serious crime than separate counts of trafficking, Reuters reported.

The Tate brothers and two female Romanian suspects are under house arrest while under criminal investigation for allegations of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. They have denied the allegations.

Romanian prosecutors notified the Tate brothers that the charge had been amended, a spokesperson said. Under Romanian law, trafficking of adults carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.

The Tate brothers' legal team said the changes to the allegations were in the suspects' “legal interest”.

“The legal framework has been revised and altered to ensure an impartial investigation is upheld,” they said in a statement.

Prosecutors have filed charges against the four suspects, but the case remains under investigation and has not yet gone to trial.

The four were held in police custody from 29 December until 31 March, when a Bucharest court placed them under house arrest.

One more victim was added to the case, which started out with six women, the spokesperson said.

In a statement published on Tuesday, the prosecution alleged: “The suspects created a system through which they recruited several injured persons, whom they induced, including through acts of violence, to produce material with sexually explicit content for an online platform dedicated to adults and/or to produce pornographic material via video chat, the material benefits thus obtained being almost entirely appropriated by the suspects.”

“Injured persons were recruited by misleading them about their intention to enter into a marriage/cohabitation relationship and the existence of feelings of love (the loverboy method).”

Prosecutors said that seven “injured persons” have been identified who were sexually exploited by the accused.

The Tate brothers were in court on Tuesday to hear the new charges read out, with Andrew Tate telling followers he could be imprisoned. “Power up in case they send me back tomorrow”, he said before proceedings.

Andrew Tate was one of the world's most popular social media influencers prior to his arrest and still boasts millions of followers across several platforms. He has courted controversy by offering ultra-masculine advice to followers and openly identifying as a misogynist, and is believed to have earned millions of pounds for his services.

With additional reporting from agencies