Brazilian man arrested for locking wife in cellar for 16-yrs

London, Jan 28 (ANI): A Brazilian man has been arrested after he allegedly locked his wife up in a cellar for 16 years.

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

Groppo's girlfriend, Maria Furquim, who revealed he claimed he locked up his wife because she was mentally ill and aggressive, was also arrested as an accomplice.

The inspector, who asked not to be named, said the wife "definitely is not an aggressive person".

The matter came to light after the police were tipped off by an anonymous phone call. (ANI)