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21st Aug 2016

3 officials from the Olympic Council of Ireland have their passports seized in Rio

The story is developing.

Laura Holland

russia

This story is developing.

Following on from the news earlier this week that the Olympic Council of Ireland President Pat Hickey was arrested in Rio de Janeiro, three other officials are currently being investigated.

Pat was arrested over suspicion that he was involved in the irregular sale of Olympic tickets and now three others have had their passports, phones and laptops seized.


According to RTÉ, the OCI has released the following statement on the seizure:

“Early this morning in Rio, Brazilian police arrived at the OCI offices in the Olympic village and at OCI accommodation outside of the village.

“The OCI personnel were asked to present for questioning at a local police station on Tuesday (23 August) next. They agreed to do so.

“The OCI had an allocation of unused official tickets in their offices which had been made available for athletes’ families and friends. The police also took possession of these tickets.”

Hickey was arrested at his hotel in Barra da Tijuca earlier this week and was later transferred to hospital due to chest pains. After he was discharged from hospital he was refused bail and transferred to Bangu Prison where he currently being held in custody.

It is believed that he is sharing a cell with one other inmate. Bangu Prison is a maximum security jail with a capacity of 532.

Topics:

news,Olympics