Latest news with #OrganisedCrimeandCorruptionReportingProject
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vanuatu looks into revoking Andrew Tate's golden passport
Vanuatu authorities are looking at revoking Andrew Tate's citizenship after it was revealed that he acquired a golden passport at around the same time as his 2022 arrest in Romania for rape and human trafficking. The self-described misogynist influencer acquired citizenship under a fast-track scheme for those who invest at least $130,000 (£96,000) in the tiny Pacific archipelago, according to an investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. The scheme has raised security concerns, and led the European Union to revoke Vanuatu's visa-free privilege in late 2024. A Vanuatu government spokesman said authorities were "definitely looking into" Tate's citizenship. "Once we have the files, definitely, the processes will be in place to revoke his citizenship," Kiery Manassah told ABC News. "The government does not want to encourage people of questionable backgrounds to be granted citizenship," he added. "Those who are wanted by their countries or who are investigated by police authorities from overseas are not welcome to be part of the citizens of Vanuatu." Passports-for-sale or citizenship by investment schemes are a source of income for countries like Vanuatu. But they have also been abused by organised crime suspects, oligarchs and even intelligence agents, said Aubrey Belford, Pacific lead editor at OCCRP. "It's caused a lot of alarm because it's one of those loopholes that allows people to get a new passport or even a new identity and be able to evade law enforcement," Belford told ABC News. Vanuatu granted Tate citizenship in December 2022. That same month, Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in Romania and have since largely been under travel restrictions in the country. Vanuatu does not have a formal extradition treaty with Romania. It is unclear if Tristan Tate also acquired Vanuatu citizenship. Andrew Tate: The self-proclaimed misogynist 'Tate raped and strangled us' - women talk to BBC Andrew Tate: We are innocent until proven guilty In recent years, Andrew Tate has built a massive online presence, including more than 10 million followers on X, sharing his lifestyle of fast cars, private jets and yachts. He has also gained global notoriety for his views towards women, proudly proclaiming himself a "misogynist" and also using extreme language relating to acts of violence against women. He has also been singled out for the effect he has had in spreading misogyny online among boys and young men by authorities in the UK. The Tate brothers were both born in the US but moved to Luton in the UK with their mother after their parents divorced. They have denied allegations of criminal wrongdoing. Separately, the UK is seeking their extradition from Romania after they were charged in 2024 of rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking. Lawyers for the brothers have said that they will return to the UK to face those charges, that stemmed from allegation between 2012 and 2015. A Romanian court has ruled that the brothers could be extradited to the UK following the end of any trial there.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Vanuatu looks into revoking Andrew Tate's golden passport
Vanuatu authorities are looking at revoking Andrew Tate's citizenship after it was revealed that he acquired a golden passport at around the same time as his 2022 arrest in Romania for rape and human trafficking. The self-described misogynist influencer acquired citizenship under a fast-track scheme for those who invest at least $130,000 (£96,000) in the tiny Pacific archipelago, according to an investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project. The scheme has raised security concerns, and led the European Union to revoke Vanuatu's visa-free privilege in late 2024. A Vanuatu government spokesman said authorities were "definitely looking into" Tate's citizenship. "Once we have the files, definitely, the processes will be in place to revoke his citizenship," Kiery Manassah told ABC News. "The government does not want to encourage people of questionable backgrounds to be granted citizenship," he added. "Those who are wanted by their countries or who are investigated by police authorities from overseas are not welcome to be part of the citizens of Vanuatu." Passports-for-sale or citizenship by investment schemes are a source of income for countries like Vanuatu. But they have also been abused by organised crime suspects, oligarchs and even intelligence agents, said Aubrey Belford, Pacific lead editor at OCCRP. "It's caused a lot of alarm because it's one of those loopholes that allows people to get a new passport or even a new identity and be able to evade law enforcement," Belford told ABC News. Vanuatu granted Tate citizenship in December 2022. That same month, Tate and his brother Tristan were arrested in Romania and have since largely been under travel restrictions in the country. Vanuatu does not have a formal extradition treaty with Romania. It is unclear if Tristan Tate also acquired Vanuatu citizenship. Andrew Tate: The self-proclaimed misogynist 'Tate raped and strangled us' - women talk to BBC Andrew Tate: We are innocent until proven guilty In recent years, Andrew Tate has built a massive online presence, including more than 10 million followers on X, sharing his lifestyle of fast cars, private jets and yachts. He has also gained global notoriety for his views towards women, proudly proclaiming himself a "misogynist" and also using extreme language relating to acts of violence against women. He has also been singled out for the effect he has had in spreading misogyny online among boys and young men by authorities in the UK. The Tate brothers were both born in the US but moved to Luton in the UK with their mother after their parents divorced. They have denied allegations of criminal wrongdoing. Separately, the UK is seeking their extradition from Romania after they were charged in 2024 of rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking. Lawyers for the brothers have said that they will return to the UK to face those charges, that stemmed from allegation between 2012 and 2015. A Romanian court has ruled that the brothers could be extradited to the UK following the end of any trial there.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Andrew Tate Got 'Golden Passport' From Vanuatu During Criminal Probe: Report
Controversial influencer Andrew Tate allegedly secured a 'golden passport' from Vanuatu in December 2022, the same month as he was arrested in Romania on charges including rape, human trafficking, and forming an organised crime group. The Pacific island nation's 'golden passport' scheme allows foreign nationals to acquire citizenship through investment. According to a joint investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Intelligence Online, Tate acquired the passport through Vanuatu's citizenship-by-investment programme, which grants foreign nationals citizenship in exchange for a minimum investment of $130,000 (around Rs 1.1 crore). Tate's Vanuatu passport was reportedly issued in January 2023 while he remained in pre-trial detention in Romania. It is unclear exactly when the application was submitted. Vanuatu does not have a formal extradition agreement with Romania. The Guardian, in a 2021 investigation, raised red flags about Vanuatu's investor citizenship scheme, revealing the programme had issued passports to individuals facing serious allegations, international sanctions, or even arrest warrants. In response to mounting international concerns, the European Union formally revoked Vanuatu's visa-free travel privileges in December 2024. This marked the first time the EU terminated such an agreement over the misuse of an investment-based citizenship scheme. The UK also withdrew visa-free access for Vanuatu passport holders in 2023, citing "clear and evident abuse of the scheme," including the issuance of passports to individuals deemed a risk to national security, Reuters reported. Tate, 38, and his brother Tristan, 36, raised in Luton, UK, have been under investigation in Romania since April 2022. Following their arrest in December 2022, a Romanian appeals court sent the human trafficking case back to prosecutors, citing legal and procedural irregularities. In August 2023, new allegations, including charges of trafficking minors, having sexual relations with a minor, and money laundering, surfaced. Both brothers have denied all charges. The brothers are expected to be extradited to the UK once legal proceedings conclude in Romania. British prosecutors recently confirmed that 10 charges have been authorised against Andrew Tate, including rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking, and controlling prostitution for gain, linked to three alleged victims. Tristan Tate faces 11 charges connected to one alleged victim. Their UK lawyer has said that they intend to return to Britain to defend themselves. The Vanuatu government has faced growing pressure to tighten its citizenship-by-investment programme. Another high-profile case involved Lalit Modi, Indian Premier League founder, who acquired a Vanuatu passport and applied to renounce his Indian citizenship. Following diplomatic pressure from India, Prime Minister Jotham Napat ordered the cancellation of Modi's passport, along with those of three Chinese nationals accused of obtaining theirs fraudulently.
