WORLD: Crime show host 'ordered killings to boost his ratings'

The presenter of a TV crime show in Brazil is suspected of ordering killings to increase his ratings with graphic footage of murder scenes.

Wallace Souza, 50, who is also a politician and a former police officer, is accused of involvement in at least five deaths in the city of Manaus.

Suspicions were raised after his Canal Livre programme featured exclusive film of murder victims where camera crews often arrived before police.

Souza has also been accused of drug trafficking with links to death squads, organised crime and possessing illegal firearms.

He used his show to claim the region is awash with violent crime and to attack political and police corruption. An investigation was launched after Souza's former security guard, Moacir Jorge da Costa, was arrested last October in connection with nine murders. He reportedly confessed that at least one of the murders was ordered by his boss.

Police raided his home and found more than £100,000 in cash as well as an arsenal of high-calibre assault rifles. There have been 20 arrests in the case so far including Souza's son, Rafael, who is being held in custody on charges of murder, drug trafficking and illegal gun possession.

The TV host remains free because of immunity that prevents him being arrested as long as he is a politician. He is being investigated by a special task force, and state judicial authorities will decide whether the case goes forward. Police chief Thomaz Vasconcelos said: "The order to execute always came from the legislator and his son, who then alerted the TV crews."

The killings of competing drug traffickers "appear to have been committed to get rid of his rivals and increase the audience of the TV show," added the officer. Souza denies the allegations and claims he and his son have been set up by opponents and drug dealers unhappy with 20 years of his relentless crime coverage.

He said: "I was the one who organised legislative inquiries into organised crime, the prison system, corruption, drug trafficking by police, and paedophilia."

Souza's lawyer, Francisco Balieiro, said the only witness is a police officer hoping for leniency in nine murders he is charged with. "There is not one piece of material proof in these accusations," he claimed.

Police investigators said the allegations stem from the testimony of several former employees and security guards who worked with the Souzas.