Controversial social media influencer and alleged sex trafficker Andrew Tate was released from a Romanian jail Friday and placed under house arrest.
After losing his first three appeals, Tate was released from a Bucharest lockup after winning his fourth one that challenged a judge’s decision last week to extend his arrest a fourth time for 30 days, said Ramona Bolla, a spokesperson for DIICOT, Romania’s anti-organized crime agency.
Tate had been jailed since late December on suspicion of organized crime and human trafficking.
The 36-year-old influence — who boasts 5.5 million followers — tweeted a simple “:)” in celebration.
Tate and and his three alleged accomplices — including brother Tristan — have not been formally charged.
Under Romanian law, they could have been held for 180 days without charge.
The foursome was each granted immediate release in favor of house arrest until April 29, a final ruling prosecutors cannot challenge, Bolla said.
As the brothers left the detection facility Friday, Tristian told reporters that “the judges today made the right decision.”
“I respect what they’ve done for me and they will be vindicated in their decision, because I’m an innocent man and I can’t wait to prove it,” he said.
The brothers were greeted by supporters chanting “Top-G,” a popular moniker meaning “top gangster” that many of Andrew’s fans refer to him as.
Tate, who has lived in Romania since 2017, and Tristian are accused of running an organized crime gang that seduced and tricked women into sex trafficking, with some victims accusing the duo of rape.
At least six victims have come forward alleging “acts of physical violence and mental coercion” and sexual exploitation.
Two Romanian women, Naghel Georgiana Manuela and Radu Alexandra Luana, have also been arrested in connection with the prevented crimes.
The brothers have repeatedly proclaimed their innocence, and Tate has even blamed their arrests on a political conspiracy designed to silence him that he dubbed “the Matrix.”
Tate has tried to recruit lawmakers to help him and attempted to intimidate some of his accusers, according to wiretaps of his phone calls submitted to the court by prosecutors.
With Post wires
