This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Rio de Janeiro • A Brazilian judge has ordered the release of a high-ranking IOC member who was arrested during the Rio de Janeiro Games in a ticket-scalping probe.
Judge Fernando Antonio de Almeida accepted on Monday a request made by Patrick Hickey's lawyers to set him free from Rio's Bangu prison complex, where he has been held since Aug. 19, while his case continues to be investigated.
Almeida says there is no indication that Hickey could pose a risk to the public or obstruct the investigation. He must remain in Brazil and hand over his passport.
Police say the 71-year-old plotted with businessmen to transfer tickets illegally to a vendor who was not authorized to sell them, and they want prosecutors to start a judicial process against Hickey for alleged ticket scalping, conspiracy and ambush marketing.
The Olympic Council of Ireland said earlier this month that Hickey decided to "step aside temporarily" as an IOC member and from all his other Olympic positions "until this matter is fully resolved." Hickey is also president of the OCI, head of the European Olympic Committees and vice president of the Association of National Olympic Committees.