Former EOC head Patrick Hickey leaves prison, but stay in Brazil read more at here www.spinonews.com/index.php/item/740-former-eoc-head-patrick-hickey-leaves-prison-but-stay-in-brazil

A Rio court on Monday ordered the release of the 71-year-old, who was also the head of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI), but said he must remain in Brazil and had his passport taken away.

Hickey had been held in Rio's 10 maximum security prison since his arrest on Aug. 10 in a luxury beachfront hotel during the Games.

The ticketing scheme according to Rio police, allegedly involved in the path of Olympic tickets intended for use by the Irish committee and not authorized for resale to THG Sports, an international sports hospitality company.

Hickey has stepped aside from his Olympic positions during the investigation.

Court authorized the release of Kevin James Mallon, another Irishman and THG director, who was arrested days before Hickey and was being held in the same prison. He left custody but is also not allowed to leave Brazil, his lawyer.

Police have said they have ample evidence of crimes committed by both men and other suspects in the case, but a full investigation and further court proceedings to determine their committed or innocence could take months.