President of the European Olympic Committee was sent to a high-security prison.

On August 19, Brazilian police said that European Olympic Committee President Patrick Hickey, accused of reselling tickets to the 2016 Olympics for personal gain, has been transferred to a highly guarded prison.

Mr. Hickey had some health problems when he was arrested. (Source: AFP)

A statement from Brazilian police said Mr. Hickey, 71, was transferred from the hospital where he was staying shortly after his arrest due to poor health to Bangu prison, on the northern outskirts of Rio de Janeiro.

Mr. Hickey's lawyer had previously requested that he be released on bail pending an investigation, but the judge rejected the request.

Mr. Hickey, who is also the president of the Irish Olympic Committee, was arrested at a luxury hotel in Rio de Janeiro, where he was watching the 2016 Olympics. Shortly after his arrest, Mr. Hickey was forced to go to hospital with a possible heart attack. Hours after his arrest, Mr. Hickey announced that he would temporarily step down from all public office.

The Irish Olympic Committee said Mr Hickey denied any involvement but agreed to be arrested by police. He was charged with facilitating the sale of black market tickets, price fixing and predatory marketing.

Several people have also been arrested in the case and Brazilian authorities are continuing to investigate.

According to the investigation agency, the 2116 Olympic ticket scalping network illegally profited up to 3 million USD after reselling tickets at many times the original price. For example, the original price of tickets to the opening ceremony was 1,400 USD, but this network resold them for 8,000 USD.

Police have confiscated nearly 800 tickets from this network.

According to VIETNAM+