Murder linked to bribe scandal

The corruption scandal shaking the Brazilian Congress took an ugly turn yesterday when police said they learned a central figure under investigation had his wife murdered to keep her from exposing bribes, Reuter reports from Sao Paulo.

On Saturday police discovered the body of Ana Elisabeth Lofrano Alves, wife of the National Budget Chief, Jose Carlos Alves dos Santos. She had been missing for over a year. Upon hearing that his wife's body had been found, Mr Alves dos Santos, who was jailed two months ago in connection with his wife's disappearance, slit his wrists in a failed suicide attempt.

He had accused members of the congressional budget committee of receiving bribes in exchange for granting government construction contracts, and police suspect he had his wife killed in order to prevent her from exposing his own corruption.