Brazil releases Olympic official on bail, probe continues

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Brazilian authorities say that senior Olympic official Patrick Hickey has been released from prison on bail while a Summer Games ticket-scalping probe continues.

Rio de Janeiro's department of penitentiaries said Hickey walked out of Bangu prison complex at 11 a.m. local time (1400 GMT) on Tuesday.

A judge ruled on Monday that he didn't pose a risk to the public or the investigation, but said that he must remain in Brazil and hand over his passport.

Hickey is also the president of the Olympic Council of Ireland but earlier this month, he decided to ''step aside temporarily'' as its leader and as an IOC member.

Police say the 71-year-old plotted with businessmen to transfer tickets illegally to a vendor that was not authorized to sell them.