UPDATE: US swimming star Ryan Lochte has been charged with making a false statement following his story about being robbed at gunpoint during the Olympics, Brazilian police said on Friday morning (AEST).
“Ryan Lochte was charged with the crime of falsely reporting a crime,” police said in a statement, adding that the case had been referred to the courts.
If convicted, Lochte, 32, could face between one to six months in jail, although the judge could choose to levy a fine instead.
Earlier, it was reported he would be summoned to give testimony in front of Brazil’s Justice Department in Rio de Janeiro over his claim he and other US Olympic swimmers were robbed at gunpoint, a police official said.
“Once he is summoned, whether he turns up or not, the penalty is the same: one to six months’ prison,” Rio police official Clemente Braune was quoted as saying by news website G1.
“If he is summoned and does not turn up to the hearing, the trial will go ahead in the accused’s absence until the final sentence is given.”
Lochte has since apologised for embellishing his version of events. He cannot testify in the US and would have to appear in person in court in Brazil or be tried in absentia, according to Fox News.
There is no penalty for him not appearing in front of the Justice Department, but if he doesn’t appear he won’t be able to engage in a plea deal, Detective Clemente Braune said.
Lochte returned to the US last week.
Ryan Lochte has apologised for “embellishing” the truth.Source:Supplied
The civil police in Brazil say they will finish their investigation this week and send their findings to state prosecutors. Through an international co-operation agreement, the findings will be sent to the proper federal US law enforcement agency which will notify Lochte, police add.
Initially, Lochte said he and three teammates — Jack Conger, Gunnar Bentz and Jimmy Feigen — were robbed after their taxi was pulled over by armed men posing as police just hours after the swimming competition ended in Rio.
That version quickly unravelled when police said the swimmers, who had attended a late-night party, never reported the incident to authorities and there was scant evidence of a robbery.
Surveillance video shows swimmers from the United States Olympic team including Ryan Lochte, right, at a petrol station.Source:AP
Video surveillance emerged showing the athletes getting into a confrontation with armed security guards over alleged vandalism at a petrol station when their taxi pulled over to let them use the rest room.
While there have been conflicting versions over whether the guards pulled their weapons on the swimmers, Lochte has since acknowledged he was highly intoxicated and that his behaviour led to the confrontation, which resulted in the swimmers paying some $US50 in US and Brazilian currency before they were allowed to leave. The incident caused a furour in Rio, where street crime was a major issue heading into the games.
In quick succession, four sponsors announced they were dumping the swimmer.
Gunnar Bentz, left, and Jack Conger.Source:AFP
Swimsuit company Speedo USA, clothing giant Ralph Lauren and skincare firm Syneron-Candela issued statements less than three hours apart, all with the same message: Lochte is out. Before the day was done, Japanese mattress maker airweave followed suit, essentially wiping out Lochte’s income away from the pool. In addition, Speedo USA said $US50,000 that would’ve gone to the 12-time Olympic medallist was being donated to Save The Children to benefit needy youngsters in Brazil.
Feigen wound up donating just under $US11,000 to a Brazilian non-profit sports organisation to settle any potential legal action.
Bentz issued a statement saying Lochte tore a sign off a wall at the petrol station and got into a heated exchange with the security officers, though Bentz denied the swimmers did any damage to a locked bathroom as authorities alleged.
James Feigen, left, and Ryan Lochte.Source:AFP
Lochte, one of the most popular US athletes, is known for his trademark saying “Jeah!” and such antics as wearing diamond grillz on the medal stand and dying his hair a silvery colour before the Rio Games.
Lochte also starred in a short-lived reality television show after the 2012 Olympics.
For 2016, he qualified in only one individual event, finishing fifth in the 200-metre individual medley, far behind longtime rival Michael Phelps.
Lochte did help Phelps and the Americans win gold in the 4×200 freestyle relay.
Originally published as Lochte’s nightmare just got worse
