Accused Murderer Freed From Jail After He Was Elected Mayor Of Town

[matcom]

<snip>

BRASILIA, Brazil (Reuters) - A Brazilian rancher accused of ordering the killing of four government agents inspecting claims of slavery has been released from jail after being elected mayor of his home town.

Anterio Manica was let out of prison on Tuesday night after being elected mayor of Unai, 90 miles from the capital Brasilia, in a landslide victory on Sunday with support from Brazil's Vice President, Jose Alencar.

A Brazilian court ruled Manica could take office on Jan. 1 while the justice system investigates federal police accusations he and his brother hired the gang that executed three labor ministry inspectors and their driver in January.

"As he was elected mayor there was little concern he would try to flee," said a Federal Police spokesman in Brasilia.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=573&ncid=573&e=1&u=/nm/20041007/od_nm/crime_brazil_dc

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

1. There's something seriously fucked up here

What do we do, forbid people accused of crimes to run in elections? He hasn't been convicted yet, so he's technically innocent. (I say technically, because it's very clear he was the killer) He'll lose the office if/when he's convicted, of course.

We can't forbid accused people from running, else a dishonest prosecutor would fabricate a ridiculous charge agains whoever they don't like shortly before an election.

Wait, I got it. The fucked up thing is the populace, who elected this creep.

And our vice president. He stinks. He's from a small RW party Lula's party felt wise to form a coalition with. Dumb dumb dumb.

[Bossy Monkey]

2. Thank you Brazil. Reaffirming my faith that somebody's government

is still worse than our's.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

3. Smallish, poor rural cities here

make "flyover country" in the USA look like NYC. I, in Rio, may consider myself as living in a different planet.