(ATR) How the IOC will cooperate with the Brazilian investigation into Patrick Hickey is unclear after IOC President Thomas Bach cancelled his Paralympic plans.
Brazilian police told local media earlier this week they were planning to "summon" Bach for questioning during his Paralympic trip. Investigators said that they intend to question Bach after finding links of Hickey and THG owner Marcus Evans laundering money during sales of multi-sport event tickets. Bach is not a suspect in the ticketing operations, but police said they would like him to explain his relationship with Hickey.
Yesterday, Bach cancelled his trip to attend the Paralympics opening ceremony to attend the state funeral of former West Germany president Walter Scheel. The IOC told Around the Rings the cancellation meant Bach would not attend any of the Games due to "long standing engagements."
With no Bach in Brazil, it means Brazilian investigators must find another way to speak to the IOC president as part of the investigation. An IOC spokesperson told ATR that the organization remains committed to help the investigation, but would not comment on if Bach will testify remotely, or even at all.
"We can confirm that we will cooperate with the police," the spokesperson said. "The IOC cannot comment on a newspaper story, nor on the ongoing legal procedure against Mr. Hickey for whom the presumption of innocence prevails."
Requests for comment from the Rio Civil Police about how they plan to speak to Bach were not returned.
Hickey was arrested on Aug. 17 and charged with selling tickets for the purpose of touting, false advertising, fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, yesterday. Brazilian authorities said that Hickey, Evans, and THG executive Kevin Mallon planned to launder $3.12 million from the illegal sale of Olympic tickets allocated to the OCI. Mallon was arrested on Aug. 5 in possession with 32 fake tickets. Authorities said Mallon sold fake hospitality packages for the 2016 Games for as high as $8,000.
Hickey’s case is now in the hands of a Brazilian judge, who must accept the charges put forth by a Brazilian prosecutor. He has been released from Bangu prison and is living in an apartment rented by the OCI in Rio de Janeiro until his case is resolved. Both Hickey and Mallon declined to speak to police after being called in for questioning earlier this week.
After the arrest Hickey temporarily stepped aside from all of his Olympic family roles, and says he is focusing on his health and clearing his name.
Written by Aaron Bauerin Rio de Janeiro
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