The controversial influencer Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan are to face trial in Romania on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women.

The Tate brothers are accused of recruiting seven female alleged victims through fake claims of marriage and love in what prosecutors have called the “loverboy method”.

Andrew, 36, and Tristan, 34, and two Romanian women were first arrested in Bucharest in December. They remained in custody until 31 March before being placed under house arrest.

On Tuesday, prosecutors agreed to send all four suspects to trial. It is alleged that the four formed an organised criminal group in 2021 to commit human trafficking in Romania as well as the UK and the US. All have denied the allegations.

The Tate brothers are accused of luring the women to Romania before “exercising acts of physical violence and mental coercion”, according to a translation of a statement from Romania’s directorate for investigating organised crime and terrorism (Diicot).

The alleged victims were later taken to buildings in Ilfov county in Romania where they were intimidated, placed under constant surveillance and forced into debt, according to the statement. The defendants then allegedly forced the women to produce pornographic content, which was shared on social media.

The brothers, both dual UK-US nationals, deny all the accusations. A spokesperson for the Tates said: “We embrace the opportunity [a trial] presents to demonstrate their innocence and vindicate their reputation.”

Andrew Tate, a former professional kickboxer who has 6.9 million Twitter followers, has previously been banned from various social media platforms.

A number of campaign groups have claimed his views make him a danger to young men and boys who see his content online.

Prosecutors in Romania have charged Andrew with raping one of the alleged victims, while Tristan has been charged with instigating others to violence.

A file has been sent to a court in Bucharest, a statement said. It is understood a trial will not begin immediately and a judge will have up to 60 days to assess the file.

The statement also says prosecutors sought the confiscation of property, cash and cryptocurrency seized during the investigation. They include 15 buildings and pieces of land, 15 luxury cars, 14 luxury watches, two ingots, about £84,000 in different currencies, and bitcoin worth an estimated $385,000 (£302,000), the agency’s statement said.

On Tuesday, Andrew tweeted: “Im sure this case has absolutely nothing to do with stealing my wealth.”

Tristan, who has 1.9 million Twitter followers, added that he had been “muzzled” by the investigation.

The pair have repeatedly made claims on social media saying the accusations are part of a conspiracy designed to silence them.

In an interview with the BBC earlier this month, Andrew Tate denied the allegations made against him. He also denied that his views on women were harmful, later claiming it was “completely disingenuous” to “pretend” that he was damaging young people.

He said: “I genuinely am a force for good in the world. You may not understand that yet, but you will eventually. And I genuinely believe I am acting under the instruction of God to do good things, and I want to make the world a better place.”

Prosecutors said one of the defendants in the case had also been charged with illegally accessing a computer system. They also said they were investigating the four suspects in a separate ongoing case on allegations of money laundering, witness tampering, and child and adult trafficking.

The 14 luxury watches seized from the Tate brothers

• A Hublot with a blue belt

• A Hublot Classic Fusion with a black belt

• A green Patek Philippe

• A silver Patek Philippe

• A Patek Philippe with a black belt

• A silver Cartier

• A silver Audemars Piguet

• A rose gold Audemars Piguet

• A rose gold Audemars Piguet with stones

• A Ulysse Nardin with a blue belt

• A silver Rolex with an authenticity certificate

• A yellow gold Rolex with stones

• A Breitling with an inscription on the back

• An Akribos with a grey belt and stones

The bitcoin breakdown

On 13 January 2023, prosecutors confiscated:

• 16.10 bitcoins worth $294,101 from an account allegedly owned by Tristan Tate on the platform www.binance.com

• 4.97 bitcoins worth $90,744 from an account allegedly belonging to someone linked to Tristan on the same platform

• 0.00320067 bitcoins worth $58.44 from an account allegedly owned by Andrew Tate on the same platform