Andrew Tate indicted in Romania for human trafficking

Romanian prosecutors on Tuesday charged US-British social media influencer Andrew Tate with human trafficking, rape and forming a gang to exploit women.

Tate was indicted with his brother Tristan and two Romanian female suspects.

They are under house arrest pending an investigation into abuses against seven women whom prosecutors say were lured through false claims of relationships.

The suspects have denied the accusations.

The Tate brothers, both former kickboxers, are the highest profile suspects facing trial for human trafficking in Romania.

Andrew Tate has grown his following of mainly young men by building a lavish, hyper-macho image of driving fast cars and dating beautiful women.

The four suspects were held in police custody from December 29 until March 31 before a Bucharest court put them under house arrest, which prosecutors on Tuesday sought to extend.

A judge will decide on Wednesday whether to prolong the detention for 30 days or replace it with a lighter measure.

"We embrace the opportunity (a trial) presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation," a spokesperson for the Tates' legal team said.

The trial will not start immediately.

Under Romanian law, the case gets sent to the Bucharest court's preliminary chamber, where a judge has 60 days to inspect the case files to ensure legality.

Trafficking of adults carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years, as does rape.

Prosecutors also said they were investigating the four suspects in a separate ongoing case on allegations of money laundering, witness tampering, and child and adult trafficking.