Amazonia TV Host/ Politician Accused of 5 Murders To Boost Ratings.

ABCNEWS/NIGHTLINE/AP.

A popular TV Host/Politician in Manaus, Amazonas has been accused of masterminding five murders and drug trafficing.

Police were suspicious because Wallace Souza's crime TV program "Canal Livre" often showed graphic footage of murder victims...BEFORE the police had arrived.

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

The murders of drug traffickers "appear to have been committed to get rid of his rivals and increase the audience of the TV show," he said.