(ATR) Kevin Mallon is out of Brazilian prison.
The THG executive was released from Bangu prison late last night. Mallon’s release was delayed by a lack of electronic tags in the state of Rio de Janeiro, his lawyer, Franklin Gomes confirmed to Around the Rings.
Now out of prison, Mallon’s movements will be restricted in Rio. He is barred from entering any Olympic or Paralympic venue, and will have an 8 p.m. curfew. Authorities will retain Mallon’s passport, making him unable to leave Brazil. Mallon was arrested on Aug. 5 for ticket touting. Over 800 tickets allocated to the Olympic Council of Ireland were found in his hotel room.
Gomes told ATR the process has been a challenge to free his client from Bangu. Gomes said that "every minute there is a new obstacle, and a new fight against negative law enforcement."
"It is sad to see the constitution be flouted in the name of bureaucracy and pre-judgment based on arguments, not evidence," Gomes said. "It's heartbreaking to feel that freedom finds a barrier not in evidence produced under the scrutiny of a full defense during the due constitutional criminal procedure, but on mere opinion based on ignorance of the sacred tenets that should guide us like humans."
OCI President Patrick Hickey, Mallon’s cellmate, remains in custody. Hickey was arrested on Aug. 17 and charged with three crimes, ticket touting, forming a cartel, and illegally marketing the 2016 Olympic Games. If convicted Hickey could face up to seven years in Brazilian prison.
An independent investigation into the ticketing scandal is starting in Ireland. On Aug. 26 the OCI appointed Grant Thornton to head the independent investigation.
The report is supposed to detail how the OCI sold its share of allocated tickets for the Rio 2016 Games and how Games accreditations were distributed. The report is due October 10.
Written by Aaron Bauer in Rio de Janeiro
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