Irish man Kevin Mallon has been released from a high security prison in Rio overnight following a Brazilian Supreme Court ruling.
Advertisement
SAO PAULO A Brazilian court has authorized the release of Ireland’s Kevin James Mallon, a director of sports hospitality company THG who was arrested on August 5 for the alleged illegal scalping of Olympic tickets, the local G1 news site said late on Friday.
When Mr Mallon was arrested, police said that more than 700 tickets, organised in envelopes and marked for sale, were found in a safe with him.
THG is a corporate and sports hospitality group based in London.
The sports hospitality company issued a statement where they welcomed the news that the Irishman is “shortly to be released” from Rio’s Bangu jail.
THG and PRO10 have denied any wrongdoing over ticket sales.
A court official will convey the writ to the Bangú 10 prison in the western suburbs of Rio where Mr Mallon has been sharing a cell with Patrick Hickey following his arrest on August 17th.
It added that it believes the company and its executives will be vindicated when all of the evidence is reviewed.
Hickey has stepped down from all of his sporting roles until the matter is “fully resolved”, but the 71-year-old denies any wrongdoing.
“We will continue to work to secure Kevin’s full release and his return to Dublin”, the firm said.
Advertisement
He was arrested after police seized Olympic tickets in a Rio hotel, some of which were part of the Irish allocation and were for the opening and closing ceremonies and the football final.
