Rio 2016: US swimmer James Feigen fined USD 10800 for faking assault

Brazil's justice system imposed a fine of 35,000 reais (around $10,800) on the United States swimmer James Feigen so that he could leave the country after falsely stating he had been a victim of an armed assault along with three of his other teammates in Rio de Janeiro, local media reported on Friday

Rio de Janeiro: Brazil's justice system imposed a fine of 35,000 reais (around $10,800) on the United States swimmer James Feigen so that he could leave the country after falsely stating he had been a victim of an armed assault along with three of his other teammates in Rio de Janeiro, local media reported on Friday.

Liars? James Feigen, Ryan Lochte, Gunnar Bentz and Jack Conger. Pics/AFP

Feigen was accused of "communicating a false crime" and after testifying for four hours before the court, Feigen agreed to pay the set fine. The money will go towards a non-governmental organisation (NGO) that teaches judo to children and teenagers in a Rio de Janeiro slum, Xinhua news agency reported.

Feigen, along with his teammates Gunnar Bentz, Jack Conger and 12-time Olympic medal winner Ryan Lochte testified to having been attacked in the early hours of Sunday morning while returning to the Games Village after attending a party.

Repercussions from the case led to Brazilian police investigating and proving that the swimmers lied about what happened. The swimmers actually caused a fight in a gas station and ended up in a brawl with the security guards.

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