Swimmer Testifies That There Was No Armed Robbery of Ryan Lochte
The Chief of the Civil Police, Fernando Veloso, confirmed that one of the American swimmers who testified on Thursday (the 18th) confessed that there was no assault on the group of the country's athletes on early Sunday morning (the 14th).
The version that they were victims of robbery was first told by Olympic champion Ryan Lochte.
American swimmers Gunnar Bentz, 20 and Jack Conger, 21, were questioned at the Special Police Office for Tourist Support in Rio's southern zone.
Bentz and Conger were prevented by the Federal Police from leaving the country on Wednesday night (the 17th). The police removed the duo from a flight bound for the United States. Initially they refused to testify.
Both athletes answered questions for more than 3 hours. They left without making any statements to journalists.
The police are still waiting for testimony from swimmer Jimmy Feigen, 26, who was also with the group that was allegedly assaulted.
Ryan Lochte, 32, is Olympic champion in the 4 X 200 m freestyle relay, and claimed on Sunday to have been robbed when he was returning to the Olympic Village after leaving a party at the France House in Rio's southern zone.
That version is contested by the Rio Police, who believe that the athletes got involved in a fight when they were returning to the Olympic Village early Sunday morning (the 14th) and that there was no assault.
According to reports from witnesses the swimmers got involved in an altercation at a gas station in Barra da Tijuca in Rio's western zone. They had urinated on the walls and trashed the bathroom at the location.
The Police Chief said that the swimmers could be charged for false reporting of a crime and property damage, if it's proven that they trashed the bathroom at the station.
False reporting of a crime carries a sentence of one to six months, or a fine.
"It's still premature to pin the crimes on them. The investigation isn't concluded yet", explained Veloso.
He said that until now he doesn't know why Lochte had lied in his testimony.
"Maybe to maintain a relationship. I don't know. We still don't have this information in this investigation", the Police Chief declared.
Ryan Lochte left Brazil on Monday (the 15th) and returned to the United States.
Translated by LLOYD HARDER