A UK court has heard a civil fraud case alleging that controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother are "serial tax evaders", in the latest legal issue for the US-born Britons.
The civil case, heard in Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday (local time), is weighing claims that the siblings failed to pay any taxes on £21 million ($39 million) of revenue from their online businesses.
Devon and Cornwall Police, in southwest England, have lodged the case against them and a third person — referred to only as J — over the allegedly unpaid tax from earnings between 2014 and 2022.
The background: Tate and his brother Tristan are awaiting criminal trial in Romania, over accusations they formed an organised criminal network in early 2021 there and in the UK.
The former professional kickboxer and his brother face charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal group to sexually exploit women.
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Andrew Tate to be extradited to UK over rape and human trafficking allegations
SBS News
12/03/202401:01
The key quote: "Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate are serial tax and VAT evaders," lawyer Sarah Clarke, representing the police force, told the court hearing.
What else to know: Clarke also quoted from a video posted online by Andrew Tate in which he said: "When I lived in England, I refused to pay tax."
The money came from products they sold online as well as their OnlyFans sites, the court was told.
What happens now: A trial date in Romania has not yet been set, but a Bucharest court eased travel restrictions on the brothers recently, allowing them to travel within the European Union while awaiting trial there.
