Russian tycoon released in prostitution probe case

LYON, France, Jan 13 (Reuters) A Russian billionaire co-owner of the world's largest nickel firm was released without charge by French investigators after his arrest in a suspected prostitution case, the prosecutor's office said.

Mikhail Prokhorov, who is the general director and co-owner of Norilsk Nickel, was among a group of people arrested on Tuesday in the ski resort of Courchevel.

''There is no serious or consistent information to charge them,'' yesterday said Xavier Richaud, the prosecutor in the eastern town of Lyon.

''But the investigation is continuing and the three judges could see them again.'' About 50 police arrested the group in an upmarket hotel on the basis of information received and the presence of ''Russian girls accompanying Mr Prokhorov'', Richaud said on Thursday.

Together with Russian tycoon Vladimir Potanin, Prokhorov controls the Interros financial group, the holding company for Norilsk.

Prokhorov was ranked the 10th richest man in Russia in the May issue of Russian Forbes, with a fortune of 7.6 billion dollar.

Reuters AD VP0430