A popular TV host in Brazil is under police investigation for arranging at least five murders to boost his ratings and to help prove his claim that Brazil's Amazon region is awash in violent crime.

Wallace Souza, who is also a state legislator, reportedly had an uncanny knack for being first on the scene and gathering graphic footage, police said.

"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," state police intelligence chief Thomaz Vasconcelos said in an interview with The Associated Press.

The killings "appear to have been committed to get rid of his rivals and increase the audience of the TV show," Vasconcelos said.

Souza's lawyer, Francisco Balieiro, said his client vehemently denies the accusations.

Balieiro said that political opponents were trying to smear Souza with false accusations, and that the only witness is a disgraced police officer hoping for leniency in nine murders he is charged with.

'No proof'

"There is not one piece of material proof in these accusations," Balieiro said.

Police career ended in disgrace

Vasconcelos said the accusations, which have made headlines in Brazil, stem from the testimony of several former employees and security guards who worked with the Souzas, allegedly as part of a gang of former police officers 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 remains free because of legislative immunity. No charges have been brought against him in the killings.

Vasconcelos said the crimes appear to have served the Souzas in two ways: They eliminated drug-trafficking rivals, and they boosted his show's ratings.

Souza became a media personality after a career as a police officer that ended in disgrace. Vasconcelos said he was fired for involvement in scams involving fuel theft and pension fraud.

Souza's biography on the state legislature's Web site says the show, which he ran with his brother, was investigative journalism aimed at fighting crime and social injustice.