London (UK), Dec 18 (LaPresse/AP) – A British court has ruled that police can seize more than GBP 2 million (EUR 2.4 million) to cover years of unpaid taxes from influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan.The Devon and Cornwall police have gone to court to claim the money, held in seven frozen bank accounts, from the Tate brothers and a woman identified only as J. At Westminster Magistrates‘ Court in London, Chief Justice Paul Goldspring ruled that the brothers’ financial transactions, including the transfer of nearly $12 million to an account in J's name, were a ‘simple trick’ to deceive the tax authorities.
A police solicitor said the Tate brothers were ‘serial tax evaders’ who paid no tax on £21m of revenue from their online businesses between 2014 and 2022. Andrew Tate, 37, is a former kickboxer and dual British-US citizen who has amassed more than 10 million followers on X. He was banned from TikTok, YouTube and Facebook after the platforms accused him of posting hate speech and misogynistic comments. He and 36-year-old Tristan face criminal charges in Romania, including human trafficking and conspiracy to exploit women. After the conclusion of these proceedings, they will be extradited to the UK to face further charges of rape and human trafficking. The two deny all the charges.