Brazil TV Host 'Used Hitmen To Boost Ratings'

**Mooley** · 12-08-2009, 07:37 PM

A TV crime show host could be charged over claims he ordered killings in Brazil to boost ratings and dispose of drug trafficking rivals.

Wallace Souza raised suspicions because of his uncanny knack to be first at the scene of a crime, gathering graphic footage of the victims.

The TV host is thought to have commissioned at least five murders to boost his show's popularity and prove his claim that Brazil's Amazon region is awash in violent crime.

Souza, who is also a state lawmaker, has been accused of drug trafficking too, amid a police probe into the murders.

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

"The order to execute always came from the legislator and his son, who then alerted the TV crews to get to the scene," state police intelligence chief Thomaz Vasconcelos claimed.

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", he said.

Souza has denied all the allegations and called them absurd.

The TV host insisted he and his son were being set up by political enemies and drug dealers angered by his two decades of relentless crime coverage and crusading legislative probes.

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

His lawyer Francisco Balieiro said the only witness is a disgraced police officer hoping for leniency in nine murders he is charged with.

But Mr Vasconcelos said the accusations stem from the testimonies of former employees who worked with the Souzas - allegedly as part of a gang involved in drug trafficking.

Souza's son Rafael has been jailed on charges of homicide, drug trafficking and illegal gun possession.

Police said Wallace Souza faces charges of drug trafficking, gang formation and weapons possession, but has not been charged with any killings.

The TV host remains free because of legislative immunity that prevents him from being arrested as long as he is a lawmaker.

Canal Livre featured Souza, in a studio, railing against rampant crime in the state, punctuated with often exclusive footage of arrests, crime scenes and drug seizures.

Courtesy sky news