Olympic Council fella Pat Hickey Arrested in Rio

ahlookit · 08-09-2016 11:56AM

Brazilian newspaper O Globo has more info, which i havent seen reported here. This is from google translate, so wording is a bit dodgy.

RIO - Technical Council for Financial Activities Control (COAF), a financial intelligence unit of the Ministry of Finance, and police officers investigating the mafia of tickets that served in the Rio Games, identified atypical financial transactions in two accounts opened in the country Bank of Brazil and used by the group. According to analyzes of COAF, they would have moved in six months about R $ 10 million. The money was obtained in part with the illegal sale of tickets and hospitality packages for VIP clients who came to Rio to watch competitions at the Olympics.

The amount of money involved is larger than previously reported...

This time the crime will be investigated is that of money laundering (crime against the national financial system). As revealed in The GLOBE edition of Tuesday, the police found that companies served as a facade to wash over € 100 million (R $ 364.7 million) in nine years. They were built around the THG (The Hospitality Group) Sports, controlled by British millionaire Marcus Evans - who had the prison ordered by involvement with the mafia of tickets and is on the run.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/coaf-identifica-movimentacao-atipica-em-contas-usadas-por-envolvidos-na-mafia-dos-ingressos-20064662#ixzz4JWEWqCyt

Will be interesting to see what comes from tonights events in Rio.

jean contente · 08-09-2016 12:14PM

That O Globo article also reports further info on what was found during the Brazilian police searches.It alleges that among items seized by police in a search of another Irish Olympic Committee official's hotel room was THG related matter.

In his room the police seized documents and a set of digital files. They also contained detailed accounting of THG, revealing binding of the committee with the British company controlled by Marcus Evans.

http://oglobo.globo.com/rio/coaf-identifica-movimentacao-atipica-em-contas-usadas-por-envolvidos-na-mafia-dos-ingressos-20064662#ixzz4JWEWqCyt

maudgonner · 08-09-2016 12:35PM

10th name revealed, also from that O Globo article:

The 10th is indicted Irish businessman Martin Burke, sporting director of the Irish Olympic Committee. He was in Brazil during the Games and was staying at a hotel in Barra. In his room the police seized documents and a set of digital files. They also contained detailed accounting of THG, revealing binding of the committee with the British company controlled by Marcus Evans.

Water John · 08-09-2016 12:38PM

I presume the legal proceedings in Rio take precedence over any OCI inquiry.
That would mean the KPMG report would not be made public until after any trial.

did I see some where that the whole investigation involved 14 countries?

PH has found himself a small cog in a much bigger wheel.

Bernard O'Byrne setting the ground for the next phase. I presume he has history with Delaney. Settling scores there too.

humberklog · 08-09-2016 01:17PM

Bernard O'Byrne was one of the few (maybe only) OCI member to do an interview not long after Hickey was arrested. He was on with Pat Kenny.
He mentioned how PH could be brash and difficult but B O'B kinda played his cards close too and didn't fully put the boot in. His last answer to the question from Pat- Do you think Hickey will survive? Bernard quite tellingly said he would expect him to survive.

B O'B after the interview then went a bit further on the twitter machine to say...

Bernard O'Byrne ‏@BernardOByrne Aug 22
Pat Kenny says to me Where are all PH friends? PH may return with a hit list of all the bad things said about him.Be afraid,be very afraid

The fear Hickey holds over some people is quite something and fairly unhealthy IMO.

Isn't Hickey in court today to see if the prosecution is to proceed?

ahlookit · 08-09-2016 01:26PM

Water John wrote: »

Bernard O'Byrne setting the ground for the next phase. I presume he has history with Delaney. Settling scores there too.

yes, O'Byrne and Delaney would have been on FAI board together. O'Byrne was pushing for Eircom Park back in the day. Delaney was in the Bertie Bowl camp. O'Byrne was eventually ousted. More background here if anyone is interested:

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/profile-bernard-obyrne-how-former-fai-chief-championed-illfated-eircom-park-project-35031726.html

humberklog wrote: »

Isn't Hickey in court today to see if the prosecution is to proceed?

Yeah, 6 Irish time I believe.

ahlookit · 08-09-2016 01:50PM

And the scope widens further.

Luckily, this is from Reuters and in English!

A ticket touting ring uncovered at the Rio Games had operated for around 8 years and was preparing for other Olympic events such as the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games, two Rio de Janeiro police sources said on Wednesday.

The ring appears to have operated similar scams at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2012 London Games, according to the sources, who requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.

"The exchange of messages, spreadsheets and documents analyzed strengthened the investigation and showed that the scam was vast," said one of the police sources.

"It was active at other sporting events and was already preparing for coming competitions," including Tokyo 2020 and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, the source added.

The second police source told Reuters "the scheme was much older and much larger than was imagined initially."

If they manage to take down some of the IOC hierarchy with this it would be better than any gold medal they won (well, maybe apart from the football)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-rio-hickey-idUSKCN11D2UM

Water John · 08-09-2016 02:10PM

Remember that design, where the pitch was rolled out between matches.

Delaney sided with Bertie, at the time.

brooke 2 · 08-09-2016 04:47PM

humberklog wrote: »

Bernard O'Byrne was one of the few (maybe only) OCI member to do an interview not long after Hickey was arrested. He was on with Pat Kenny.
He mentioned how PH could be brash and difficult but B O'B kinda played his cards close too and didn't fully put the boot in. His last answer to the question from Pat- Do you think Hickey will survive? Bernard quite tellingly said he would expect him to survive.

B O'B after the interview then went a bit further on the twitter machine to say...

Bernard O'Byrne ‏@BernardOByrne Aug 22
Pat Kenny says to me Where are all PH friends? PH may return with a hit list of all the bad things said about him.Be afraid,be very afraid

The fear Hickey holds over some people is quite something and fairly unhealthy IMO.

Isn't Hickey in court today to see if the prosecution is to proceed?

O'Byrne was also on the VB show around the same time, saying much the same thing.

Arcade_Tryer · 08-09-2016 05:11PM

humberklog wrote: »

Bernard O'Byrne ‏@BernardOByrne Aug 22
Pat Kenny says to me Where are all PH friends? PH may return with a hit list of all the bad things said about him.Be afraid,be very afraid

He really is a pathetic creature.

Exiled1 · 08-09-2016 05:27PM

What opportunity is Bernard eyeing??

ahlookit · 08-09-2016 05:39PM

Exiled1 wrote: »

What opportunity is Bernard eyeing??

I'd imagine its to head the OCI himself.

If he can leapfrog Delaney there, and shaft him in the FAI too it would be a bonus. O'Byrne previously ousted Delaney Sr in the FAI, only for Johnno to exact family revenge.

Joe_ Public · 08-09-2016 06:50PM

Bernard's eyes would be bulging at the amount of new shirts he could buy on an OCI expense account.

2RockMountain · 08-09-2016 08:08PM

Did I read somewhere that the OCI are paying for Hickey's nice apartment for his time in Brazil? And a trial could take 18 months to come to Court? Are they really going to use their funds to pay for someone in these circumstance?

maudgonner · 08-09-2016 10:37PM

Here's the actual email Hickey sent requesting extra tickets, including 500 for the men's football final.

https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/773797932072046592

It's also being reported that the charges can attract sentences of up to 20 years but for first time offenders that would likely be reduced to 8-10.

McDermotX · 08-09-2016 10:39PM

You don't ask, you don't get.

Muahahaha · 08-09-2016 10:44PM

The net gets wider and wider. No wonder IOC President Bach wont attend the Paralympics

maudgonner · 08-09-2016 10:54PM

Muahahaha wrote: »

The net gets wider and wider. No wonder IOC President Bach wont attend the Paralympics

Apparently that's as much to do with him being thick with the International Paralympics Committee as it does the whole ticketing scandal.

When they blanket-banned Russia the IOC were really annoyed, especially when there was a very favourable public reaction to it. Really showed them up and got people asking questions about how cosy they are with Putin.

I like Bach's excuse though - 'he has longstanding engagements'. Yeah, 'cause it's not like he knew in advance when the Paralympics were happening?

maudgonner · 09-09-2016 01:59AM

More from Globo (with dodgy Google translate). Looks like there's more investigation to come, related to tax dodging:

According to the delegate Ronaldo Oliveira, the iventigações on the case were virtually closed, but will open yet a new survey that clears the laundering crimes of money and tax evasion.
- We seized emails, suspects talk about the sale of tickets and also about ways to circumvent the Brazilian tax authorities - said the delegate.

The Irish Times also has an article about the investigation. The prosecutor is the same one that is working on the 2104 World Cup ticket touting case, which is only coming to a conclusion now. In that case at least one of the defendants was allowed to leave the country while the case was being tried. It seems that is typical in non-violent cases because they can take so long to make their way through the system. If he does get jail time the prosecutor 'says he is realistic about the chances of Fofana returning voluntarily to Brazil'. Will be interesting to see whether Hickey & Mallon get the same leeway (if the case goes ahead) or whether the Brazilians will be more cautious this time.

Muahahaha · 09-09-2016 07:03AM

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/oci-authorises-thg-to-handle-sales-of-tickets-for-2018-games-35034787.html

Last night police in Rio produced an email apparently sent from PR advisor Jon Tibbs to Patrick Hickey on August 9.
In the email, Tibbs warned Mr Hickey of the severity of the situation and advised him to create a "paper trail" .

He said; "I seriously think you should send a note to the IOC asap stating that 'due to the alleged ticketing offences involving THG in Rio 2016, I would like to provisionally suspend their Authorised Ticket Retailer status for PyeongChang 2018. This would be reviewed once the OCI and the police investigations have concluded.'"
Tibbs instructed him to "Mark it [the note] strictly private and confidential.

"Then we have a paper trail with the IOC to show we have already taken action. We can use this with the media if / when the PyC relatonship becomes public which I fear will be at any time."

So yet another twist to the story. This PR guy Jon Tibbs runs a company (JTA) which specialises in "International Relations and Communications in Sport". Check out some of his clients- Manchester United, Wimbledon tennis, !AAF, and so on. http://jtassocs.com/
And here is Mr.Tibbs giving Pat Hickey direct advise on how to cover his tracks on the ticket touting scandal. No wonder Hickey is taking the no comment line with the police.

He really is goosed here, the Brazilian police have him nailed to the cross with all these emails. With the release of each one things just get worse and worse for the bould Pat.

Dionysius2 · 09-09-2016 10:51AM

maudgonner wrote: »

Apparently that's as much to do with him being thick with the International Paralympics Committee as it does the whole ticketing scandal.

When they blanket-banned Russia the IOC were really annoyed, especially when there was a very favourable public reaction to it. Really showed them up and got people asking questions about how cosy they are with Putin.

I like Bach's excuse though - 'he has longstanding engagements'. Yeah, 'cause it's not like he knew in advance when the Paralympics were happening?

And the truth so often these days is that which represents the beneficial interests of the speaker !

Calahonda52 · 09-09-2016 11:03AM

maudgonner wrote: »

Here's the actual email Hickey sent requesting extra tickets, including 500 for the men's football final.

https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/773797932072046592

It's also being reported that the charges can attract sentences of up to 20 years but for first time offenders that would likely be reduced to 8-10.

This plus the prospect of waiting 18 months for trial has made my weekend.

ahlookit · 09-09-2016 11:32AM

maudgonner wrote: »

Here's the actual email Hickey sent requesting extra tickets, including 500 for the men's football final.

https://twitter.com/martynziegler/status/773797932072046592

It's also being reported that the charges can attract sentences of up to 20 years but for first time offenders that would likely be reduced to 8-10.

The Times has some more texts between Hickey and Bach

In them Hickey alludes to conversations about an Azerbaijan Olympic bid during last years European games.

Also I didnt realise that the 2019 Euro games will be in Russia (either Kazan or Sochi) .... obviously this had no bearing on PH's pro-Russia stance in the doping controversy before these Olympics

This one is my favourite though

June 28th – TB to PH: Congratulations and a big hug Thomas

Wonder whether PH will want to give TB a big hug whenever and wherever they next meet. TB is certainly giving him a wide berth these days...

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/things-are-much-improved-here-in-rio-selected-text-messages-between-pat-hickey-and-thomas-bach-ahead-of-games-1.2784865

Ceepo · 09-09-2016 11:46AM

OCI have announced THG as their tickets provider for the next 2 Olympics (winter and summer).

http://m.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/oci-authorises-thg-to-handle-sales-of-tickets-for-2018-games-35034787.html

Surely the should have went with another provider until the investigation has taken place. In case there was anything dodgy going on .

ahlookit · 09-09-2016 12:03PM

Ceepo wrote: »

OCI have announced THG as their tickets provider for the next 2 Olympics (winter and summer).

http://m.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/oci-authorises-thg-to-handle-sales-of-tickets-for-2018-games-35034787.html

Surely the should have went with another provider until the investigation has taken place. In case there was anything dodgy going on .

The article suggests the deal had been done before this all blew up

A well-placed source revealed the decision to appoint THG was taken before police arrested Mr Mallon on August 5 and seized 823 tickets - many of which had been issued to the OCI - from his hotel room in Rio de Janeiro. Just under 12 days later, police arrested Mr Hickey.
In a statement to the Irish Independent, a spokesperson for the OCI said: "The OCI ATR for the Pyeongchang Games is THG (who were accepted by the Pyeongchang Olympics organising committee).

"However, in recent weeks the OCI wrote to THG putting them on notice that if any wrongdoing was found in the investigation of THG and PRO10 in the context of the Rio Olympics that the OCI would notify the Pyeongchang organising committee of same and THG could risk losing the contract."

As Muahahaha pointed out earlier, the PR guy was advising Hickey to cover his ass on the matter by sending a note to the IOC. That way they would have something ready when the story inevitably broke

Water John · 09-09-2016 12:04PM

Some body was investing in the future. A good pension, perhaps.

Joe_ Public · 09-09-2016 12:22PM

Ceepo wrote: »

OCI have announced THG as their tickets provider for the next 2 Olympics (winter and summer).

http://m.independent.ie/sport/rio-2016-olympics/oci-authorises-thg-to-handle-sales-of-tickets-for-2018-games-35034787.html

Surely the should have went with another provider until the investigation has taken place. In case there was anything dodgy going on .

The audacity is so breathtaking it's almost funny at this stage.

That decision was likely taken before their current troubles escalated, but they are digging a massive hole for themselves all the same. At a very minimum, the OCI as it currently stands is finished, though the sight of the likes of Bernard O'Byrne trying to position himself to capitalise doesn't present much of an appealing alternative.

maudgonner · 09-09-2016 12:45PM

It was also revealed that it wasn't just tickets from the Irish allocation and Pro10 that were involved. Cartan, who are an ATR for 35 other countries also supplied tickets to THG. And according to this article Hickey knew all about it.

Another detective, Aloysio Falcão, claimed they had found emails between Greg Harney, the vice-president of Cartan Tours and a former executive director of the United States Olympic Committee, and Hickey and Evans.
"Greg Harney, the director of Cartan, sent an email to Marcus Evans [the owner of THG Sports], on August 6, the day after the arrest of Kevin Mallon," Falcão said.
"Another spreadsheet shows the values that were collected by THG for their tickets.
"Here the fact that they were touting tickets is very clear.
"[Another document] shows how many packages were sold: 1,051 by THG.
"One victim paid $79,500 (£60,000/€71,000), another $206,000 (£155,000/€183,000).
"And here we have an email from the director of Cartan, Greg Harney, to Patrick Hickey, saying he had closed a deal with Marcus Evans and was in contact with an employee of THG, Kevin Mallon.
"So Patrick Hickey knew of Kevin Mallon, he knew of the whole scheme done by Cartan.
"When Kevin Mallon was arrested, Greg [Harney] sent an email to Patrick [Hickey] on August 7.
"Greg Harney and Patrick Hickey had numerous telephone contacts."

So that's proof Hickey knew exactly who Mallon was and what he was doing in Rio. Of course when Mallon was arrested, Hickey and the OCI released a statement saying they had no knowledge of him.

ahlookit · 09-09-2016 12:55PM

maudgonner wrote: »

It was also revealed that it wasn't just tickets from the Irish allocation and Pro10 that were involved. Cartan, who are an ATR for 35 other countries also supplied tickets to THG. And according to this article Hickey knew all about it.

So that's proof Hickey knew exactly who Mallon was and what he was doing in Rio. Of course when Mallon was arrested, Hickey and the OCI released a statement saying they had no knowledge of him.

From the rte interview on 11 August:

PB There is an Irish businessman who is in jail at the moment in Brazil, em, do you know or have you ever met Kevin Mallon?

PH I have never met Kevin Mallon, I don’t know anything about him and in fact when I heard the reports first like this like I told like everyone else, I thought he was based in the UK and then I subsequently read in the media that he is based in the Dublin office but I have never met him and to my knowledge none of the staff of the OCI have ever met him

humberklog · 09-09-2016 05:44PM

I'd a few questions that I'm a little unclear on- if anyone had the answers that's be great:

The reports of the text messages and emails from PH, THG, Pro10 etc. that the Irish printed press are reporting on are they being released by the Brazilian authorities?

Has PH and KM still to attend a court hearing where a judge will rule whether they have to face proceedings?

Why is print media keeping the story updated but radio has all but been silent for the last week? I thought there were enough events this week to warrant some update to the goings on between Brazilian authorities, the OCI and the ICO.

It looks as though The Communications Clinic have reeled back on using the family sob story offensive and have ditched that whacky useless solicitor and have decided to pull the shutters down. For now.

Olympic Council fella Pat Hickey Arrested in Rio

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