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World Cup 2014: Ray Whelan hands himself in to Rio de Janeiro court World Cup 2014: Ray Whelan hands himself in to Rio de Janeiro court
(about 9 hours later)
Ray Whelan, the British chief executive of a Swiss hospitality company implicated in an investigation into the illegal resale of VIP World Cup tickets, surrendered himself to a Rio de Janeiro court on Monday, a court press spokeswoman said. Ray Whelan, the fugitive chief executive of a Swiss hospitality company implicated in an investigation into the illegal resale of VIP World Cup tickets, surrendered to a Rio de Janeiro court on Monday, a court spokeswoman said.
Whelan gave himself up to the Rio de Janeiro-state justice tribunal and will be picked up by police shortly, the court said. Whelan gave himself up to the Rio de Janeiro-state Justice Tribunal in downtown Rio and would be picked up by police, the court said.
Rio state prosecutors have accused 12 people of engaging in criminal organisation, bribery, money laundering and tax evasion in connection with a World Cup ticket “scalping” ring. Rio state prosecutors have accused 12 people of engaging in criminal organisation, bribery, money-laundering and tax evasion in connection with a World Cup ticket "scalping" ring.
Scalping, or reselling tickets for profit, is illegal in Brazil.Scalping, or reselling tickets for profit, is illegal in Brazil.
Whelan’s employer, Match Services, has said that it is confident he has done nothing wrong. Briton Whelan is chief executive of Match Services which had been granted the exclusive right to sell VIP tickets for the World Cup from Fifa.
Match had been granted the exclusive right to sell VIP tickets for the World Cup from Fifa. It is the main provider of hospitality packages for the World Cup and paid $240m for the exclusive rights to sell corporate hospitality at the 2010 World Cup and this one. Match is the main provider of hospitality packages for the World Cup and paid $240 million for the exclusive rights to sell corporate hospitality at the 2010 World Cup and this one.
In a statement, Match said all sales followed Fifa's procedures, denied Whelan participated in any illegal scheme to resell tickets and vowed to collaborate with the Brazilian police.
"We are confident that the investigations carried out by the Brazilian authorities will bring more transparency to the facts and will clear Match's staff and show the probity of its work," the company said in the statement.
A judge approved detention for 11, including Whelan, on June 10. Police allege that Whelan fled the Copacabana Palace hotel shortly before they arrived to detain him.
Shortly after the failed arrest, Whelan was declared a fugitive and his name was placed on an international Interpol watch list.