President of Irish Olympic Committee jailed in Brazil

File photo of Patrick Hickey, President of the Olympic Council of Ireland in 2012. [Photo/VCG]

RIO DE JANEIRO - The president of the Irish Olympic Committee, Patrick Hickey, was jailed on Friday in Rio de Janeiro for allegedly forming an illegal ring to sell Olympic tickets.

Hickey, 71, was first arrested on Wednesday but spent two days in hospital after complaining of health problems.

According to Brazilian police, the Irish Olympic Committee hired a company, Pro 10, to sell tickets in Brazil. However, these tickets were then transferred to another Irish company, THG, whose director Kevin James Mallon was arrested earlier in August, after around 1,000 tickets were found in his Rio hotel.

The police alleges that this ring was selling tickets for up to five times their face value. This included selling tickets to the Opening Ceremony for up to 8,000 US dollars and for the Closing Ceremony at up to 15,000 US dollars.

Hickey was taken to the prison of Bangu in Rio de Janeiro as his case continues.

Hickey has temporarily resigned his position with the Irish Olympic Committee, as well as other positions with the European Olympic Committees and the Association of National Olympic Committees.