Brazil 2014: Ray Whelan, suspected of leading illegal ticket sales, considered "fugitive"

Ray Whelan (UK) has fled his hotel in Rio de Janeiro (BRA), the Brazilian Civil Police told the Brazilian newspaper O Globo on 10/07/2014. Whelan is the senior director of Match Services, the Swiss company that provides ticketing, accommodation and IT services to FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association).

Ray Whelan, 64, is suspected by the Brazilian police of leading a criminal network that illegally sold tickets for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil (12/06 to 13/07/2014). He was arrested in Rio de Janeiro (BRA) on 07/07/2014 and later freed on 08/07/2014. The court of Rio de Janeiro ordered that Ray Whelan and ten other suspects be placed in preventive detention on 10/07/2014.

“We have security camera images of him exiting the hotel through a service door. He’s now considered a fugitive,” said Fabio Barucke, the lead investigator, on 10/07/2014. Brazilian civil police asked for the Brazilian federal police and Interpol (the international police organisation) agents to provide help in finding Whelan, O Globo reported.

"Those responsible for the investigation from the 18^th…