BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Masked police officers in Romania carried out fresh raids early Wednesday at the home of divisive internet influencer Andrew Tate, who is awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, said it was searching four homes in the counties of Bucharest and nearby Ilfov, investigating allegations of human trafficking, the trafficking of minors, sexual intercourse with a minor, influencing statements and money laundering. The agency added that hearings will later be held at its headquarters.

Tate’s spokesperson, Mateea Petrescu, said in response to the raids that “although the charges in the search warrant are not yet fully clarified, they include suspicions of human trafficking and money laundering” and added that his legal team is present. Petrescu did not address the allegations involving minors.

  • Barbarian@sh.itjust.works
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    2 months ago

    Sounds like he’s still stuck in the 90s. The police used to be corrupt as all hell, but things have slowly improved. Most would probably take a kickback for something very minor, like drinking a beer in a park, but there’s too many eyes on them for anything more major.

    Just 2 months ago a guy I know came in from Italy, but didn’t realize Romania has a zero tolerance policy on drunk driving. He had a single glass of wine and was driving. Police stopped him, asked if he’d been drinking, he said yes. Once he realized how much shit he was in, he tried to bribe them. They added that to the charges. He’s now banned from driving in Romania (he had to get a pair of friends from Italy to come pick up his car), but they were nice enough to not cancel his driving license completely.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        When I was 19 or 20, I got caught driving without insurance (don’t do this) and my license was suspended for six months. Maybe two years later, my friend got pulled over on a DUI. He spent maybe an hour in jail before his parents bailed him out and got his license suspended for six weeks.

        Like I said, don’t drive without insurance, but I think I was a hell of a lot less likely to kill someone with my car than he was.

        • Windex007@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          It’s obscene the revoke a license for insurance. I can understand a fine, maybe impounding the uninsured vehicle until you have proof of insurance… But suspending the license? That’s fucked.

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            I don’t disagree with you. And six months was ridiculously excessive.

            Of course, I had to go to work, and the bus didn’t even remotely come close to my job, so I drove anyway. I didn’t have a choice. I just hoped I didn’t get pulled over again, which I thankfully did not.

    • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Romania has a zero tolerance policy on drunk driving

      Like blood alcohol limit is 0.00? Because most countries define a limit that makes you drunk and it ain’t zero.

      • Barbarian@sh.itjust.works
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        2 months ago

        Yup, exactly. Strictly 0.0. There are cases where people have lost their licenses after having one of those little chocolates with the rum-flavored fillings. This was a reaction to a huge wave of deaths due to DUIs.

        • Samvega@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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          2 months ago

          That’s a bit rough. Bread that rises due to the action of yeast contains as much as 1.9% alcohol by volume.

          Additionally, the yeast used in bread and cakes contains a residual amount of alcohol. It is impossible to remove the alcohol in the baking process. Therefore eating cakes and bread can set off the breathalyzer by a small percentage.

          I’m all for clamping down on drunk driving. But I’m not for making it illegal to drive after eating a sandwich.

           

          Edit: the exhaled air alcohol content is higher, at 0.4mg / l. I assume that’s been calibrated to avoid false positives from eating bread.

          Traffic police has right to stop and vehicle and test the driver regarding drugs and alcohol consumption. The alcohol limit allowed is 0.00mg/l, if the driver has alcohol content under 0.4mg / l of pure alcohol in the exhaled air, he will be fined, if the alcohol level is higher than 0,40mg/l (0.80g / l of pure alcohol in blood) is punishable by imprisonment to 1 to 5 years.

          • mycodesucks@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            They’re far from the only country to do this. Japan is the same way. Driving after even a drop of alcohol is illegal. It’s technically even illegal to operate a bicycle with any alcohol in you.