Rio ‘ticket scalping’ probe widens

Three Olympic Council of Ireland officials had their passports, phones and laptops seized by Brazilian police on Sunday following the earlier arrest of former OCI president Pat Hickey.

Rio police said Ireland team leader Kevin Kilty, CEO Stephen Martin and secretary-general Dermot Henihan are accused of illegally selling Olympic tickets.

The officials agreed to attend police stations in Rio for questioning today, the OCI said.

Investigators arrived at the OCI's offices and accommodation early on Sunday when staff were preparing for the closing ceremony.

Officers searching for evidence seized the devices as well as unused tickets that were part of the OCI's allocation for athletes' families.

Hickey, 71, was detained in Barra da Tijuca on Wednesday and taken to Samaritano Hospital with chest pain. Once he was discharged he was taken to a police station.

Hickey has been formally accused under Brazilian law of ticket touting, running a cartel and illicit marketing.

A judge in Ireland will be appointed this week to head an independent inquiry into the alleged ticketing scandal.