ATR First: Nuzman Trial in Holding Pattern

(ATR) A verdict and sentencing is now months away for former Brazilian Olympic leader Carlos Nuzman.

Nuzman is on trial in Rio de Janeiro, facing allegations that he helped mastermind a scheme to buy the votes of African IOC members when Rio was a bid city for 2016.

According to a source close to the criminal trial, the trial is now on hold until evidence requested by the prosecution from other countries has been received. The verdicts were originally expected by the end of this year.

Along with Nuzman, the other two main defendants are the former governor of Rio de Janeiro, Sergio Cabral, and the former Rio 2016 COO and marketing chief, Leonardo Gryner. The three were already heard at a public hearing and declared themselves not guilty.

Of the three defendants, the only one who has remained in prison is Cabral due to accusations in other proceedings.

The request for offshore evidence was made in August.

Nuzman, 76, was arrested a year ago. At the time he was also president of the Brazilian Olympic Committee as well as an honorary IOC member. He has been succeeded at COB and has suspended his IOC position. Nuzman was imprisoned upon his arrest, but he has been free on bail while on trial.

The trial included testimony by video link from IOC member Nawal El Motawakel, who was the IOC Coordination Commission chair for Rio. Lassana Palenfo, honorary IOC member in Cote D’Ivoire also testified for the defense.

The legendary former footballer Pelé and former Brazilian president Lula da Silva, emblematic figures of the Rio candidacy told the court in their testimony that they knew nothing about the vote buying allegations.

The request for evidence from overseas could include bank account records or testimony, possibly from ex-IAAF President and former IOC member in Senegal Lamine Diack. Diack and his son are suspected of engineering a scheme to receive $2 million in cash that they distributed to support the Rio 2016 bid.

Reported by Miguel Hernandez.