Five-star cell treatment for businessman

A businessman jailed for kidnapping and witness cohersion has a better treatment in jail than the overwhelming majority of honest citizens living in Brazil. Alfeu Mozaquatro not only has access to cable TV in his own cell, but also may receive up to five visits a week from family and friends, and can order food from restaurants to be delivered to the prison where he's spending his five-year sentence.

His 'benefits' are even registered in an official document signed by the prison's director. In an interview to a Brazilian news outlet, the director admits that the businessman is given privileges, but says he sees no harm in allowing him to watch DVDs and the news. However, he can't explain why the 39 other people incarcerated at the same prison do not have access to the same treatment.

Brazilian authorities are investigating the case, and may soon put an end to the businessman's five-star dream retreat.

All new cars to have radar tracking in Brazil

Due to the large number of stolen cars in the country, the Brazilian Transit Council (Contran) announced that all new cars sold in Brazil will have to come equipped with a tracking device that will allow the vehicles to be localized by sattelite. The manufacturers have two years to comply with the new rule. For buyers, the decision not only means they will be forced to pay for the system to be installed by the car makers. They will also have to pay for a service monthly fee, roughly around US$ 40/month.

The idea may be good to discourage criminals, but not so for consumers already forced to pay nearly 50% more than the real value of cars in duties alone. In addition to creating rules that ultimately force people to pay more, the authorities should try to do their part in guaranteeing a safer environment not only against car thieves, but also murderers, burglars, drug traffickers and kidnappers.