Man 'locked wife in cellar for 16 years'

[Feuer Frei!]

A MAN has been arrested in southeastern Brazil for allegedly keeping his wife locked in a cellar for 16 years. Police acting on a tip-off found the 64-year-old woman padlocked in a moldy, filth-ridden cellar.
She was discovered lying naked on a concrete bed in the 12 square meter (130 square foot) room, with only a blanket to cover her, and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Joao Batista Groppo, the woman's husband of 40 years, told police that he kept her locked away because she was mentally ill.
The 64-year-old suspect reportedly told officers he did not provide her with any form of lighting to avoid wasting energy.


During the woman's alleged imprisonment, Groppo shared the house in Sorocaba, about 60 miles (97 km) west of Sao Paulo, with his girlfriend Maria Aparecida Furquim, the paper said.
She was arrested Wednesday as an alleged accomplice.
The couple was charged with false imprisonment, authorities said. They could each face eight years in prison if convicted.


*Note underlined. 8 years? Wait...what?
Another clear cut case of the justice system failing, and not being harsh enough.
Certainly, if found guilty, shouldn't they both serve at least 16 years? Each?
The length of time the victim allegedly was 'imprisoned'?
The other operative word being 'could'.
They could face jail.
Seems only fair.