Pat Hickey granted bail, unlikely to serve time in jail
OCI president Pat Hickey has been granted bail by a judge in Brazil - who says he is unlikely to serve time in Bangu jail, even if convicted.
The OCI president has been held in the high-security Bangu prison following his arrest on August 17th.
This afternoon Judge Fernando de Almeida of the local criminal court has agreed to grant bail to the 71-year-old.
He said releasing Pat Hickey 'would not bring any obstacle or risk to public order', or undermine the criminal investigation against him.
He also noted Pat Hickey's personal health, and the fact that the charges would not carry a jail term of longer than four years.
The judge further noted that where possible, the law should be interpreted as favourably as possible in favour of the accused.
Pat Hickey is to be released from Bangu prison.
His lawyers have succeeded in getting an injunction on the basis of Mr Hickey's "critical" health issues.
They also argued that Mr Hickey was "imprisoned on presumptions".
He is to be released in the next few hours on bail and he must remain under house arrest in Rio de Janerio.
