Influencers Charged with Rape and Human Trafficking

Influencer brothers Andrew Tate and Tristan Tate have been charged in the UK with rape and other crimes, including human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain. Andrew Tate, 38, faces 10 charges related to three women, while Tristan Tate, 36, faces 11 charges related to one woman. The charges date back to between 2012 and 2015 and were authorized in January last year. The brothers, who are dual US and British citizens, have denied all allegations and are currently facing charges in Romania, where they reside. A Romanian court has ordered their extradition to the UK once their case in Romania is concluded.

Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate have been charged with 21 crimes, including rape and human trafficking, in the United Kingdom. The charges were authorized in January 2024, and the brothers, who hold dual US and UK citizenship, face extradition to the UK once their current court case in Romania is concluded. Andrew Tate faces 10 charges related to three women, including rape, actual bodily harm, and human trafficking, while Tristan faces 11 charges related to one woman, including rape and human trafficking. The brothers have denied all allegations and are currently facing charges in Romania, including a second case opened in August 2024 for allegedly trafficking underage girls.

A South African court sentenced a 35-year-old woman, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, to life in prison for kidnapping and selling her 6-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, for $1,100. The girl has been missing since February last year. The court also sentenced Smith's two accomplices to life imprisonment for human trafficking. The judge stated that Smith showed no remorse and was manipulative, and that there was nothing redeeming about her actions that would warrant a lesser sentence. The case drew national attention in South Africa, where kidnappings are on the rise, with over 17,000 reported in the 2023/2024 financial year.

A South African mother, Kelly Smith, has been jailed for life for kidnapping and trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith, who remains missing. Smith, along with her boyfriend Jacquen Appollis and friend Steveno Van Rhyn, were convicted of the crimes after a witness testified that Smith sold her daughter to a traditional healer for £830, claiming the girl was wanted for her "eyes and skin". The three defendants had pleaded not guilty, but were sentenced to life in prison by a high court judge.