Patrick Hickey Leaves Rio de Janeiro

(ATR) Patrick Hickey is finally leaving Rio de Janeiro.

A ruling on Dec. 12 from a Rio state judge authorized the return of Hickey’s passport after the deposit of his bail. In addition to paying the $439,000 bail, the judge ruled that Hickey must sign an agreement saying he will return to cooperate with the trial.

The bail money for Hickey came through the Association of National Olympic Committees. ANOC said in a statement that the body would loan Hickey the money on "humanitarian grounds," and expects the funds to be paid back in full.

Around the Ringslearned that Hickey is traveling out of Brazil tonight. Reports from Brazil say Hickey was present in Rio's international airport passing through security.

Hickey was granted permission to receive his passport for health reasons. After his arrest Hickey spent a night in a Rio hospital for treatment of a cardiac episode. According to areport from theIrish Independent, Hickey will return to Ireland through a trip to London, and is already booked for heart surgery.

Hickey has been in Rio de Janeiro since the IOC Session ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympics. During the final days of the Games Hickey was arrested on Aug. 17, in connection with an investigation regarding resale of tickets allocated to the Olympic Council of Ireland. Hickey spent some time in Rio’s Bangu prison, after which a judge ruled he could be released.

As part of the release Hickey had to maintain a residence in Rio and surrender his passport. For the past four months Hickey has been living in an apartment in Rio’s south zone paid by the OCI.

It remains unclear if Hickey will return to Brazil to testify after leaving the country to seek treatment for a heart condition. Currently there is no formal extradition agreement between Ireland and Brazil, which would complicate matters if Hickey refuses to return.

Brazilian authorities are prepared for this matter. In addition to the cooperation agreement, State Prosecutor Marcos Kac said if Hickey is not in Brazil and is convicted a "red notice" would be filed with Interpol International to enforce the decision.

The Dec.12 ruling did not solely impact the return of Patrick Hickey’s passport. Judge Rubioli ruled on conditions for the return of compatriot Kevin Mallon’s passport, and set new conditions on Mallon’s bail.

Mallon, an executive for sports hospitality packager THG, was arrested in August for the illegal sales of Rio 2016 tickets. Mallon was found with over 800 Rio 2016 tickets in his hotel room. Mallon's employer THG was not the Authorized Ticket Reseller for the Olympic Council of Ireland, after having served in that capacity for the 2012 and 2014 Games.

Like Hickey, Mallon spent time in Bangu prison, before being released with an electronic ankle tracker in Rio de Janeiro. As part of the conditions for his release, Mallon was banned from entering any venues associated with the Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics, and had an 8 p.m. curfew.

Mallon’s lawyer Franklin Gomes told ATR the reduction in bail was "a great victory," for the defense. Mallon’s bail was originally set at the same $439,000 as Hickey’s but was halved by Judge Rubioli on Dec. 12. Gomes says that the original bail amount was "extremely excessive," given the financial state of his client.

"We are happy with the reduction, which will ensure Kevin's right to continue to defend himself from the accusations," Gomes said. "We are confident that in the end justice will recognize the misjudgment of the charges and will clear him. We will continue to defend Kevin throughout the process."

Written by Aaron Bauer

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