Brazil: Wife 'locked in filthy cellar'

Police in south-east Brazil say they have arrested a man for allegedly keeping his wife locked in a cellar for 16 years.

A police inspector in the city of Sorocaba said 64-year-old Joao Batista Groppo was arrested after his wife of 40 years was found locked in a "filthy and dark" cellar.

The inspector, who asked not to be named, said that Groppo's girlfriend, Maria Furquim, was also arrested as an accomplice.

She said Groppo claimed he locked up his wife because she was mentally ill and aggressive.

The inspector said the wife "definitely is not an aggressive person".

Police were tipped off by an anonymous phone call.