The President of the European Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey, has been arrested in Rio de Janeiro, reported the
Irish Examiner.
He has been detained for the illegal sale of tickets to the Olympic games.
According to the Irish Examiner, 71 year old Hickey is suspected of selling illegal tickets at exorbitant prices, and generating several million euros worth of profit.
He could face up to 7 years in prison if convicted.
Several days before this, an individual was detained with more than 800 illegal tickets.
According to Rio police, Hickey attempted to escape while police were en route to arrest him.
Hickey was also the president of the Irish Olympic Committee, before being forced to “temporarily step down from his position.”
Hickey was one of the main proponents of holding the first European Olympic Games in Baku.
In 2015, Patrick Hickey was awarded the “Sheref” (dignity) honor by Ilham Aliyev.
