And finally… condom stock soars as court strikes down adultery crime and ‘I was just looking after it’

The law, which came into force in 1953, was intended to protect women by making marital infidelity a criminal offence.

Judge Seo Ki-seok of the Constitutional Court, delivering the opinion of the court said: “The law is unconstitutional as it infringes people’s right to make their own decisions on sex and secrecy and freedom of their private life, violating the principle banning excessive enforcement.”

Seven of the nine judges determined the law to be unconstitutional.

Following the ruling, shares in Unidus Corp, a manufacturer of latex products, soared to the 15 per cent daily limit gain.

In addition, Hyundai Pharmaceutical Co Ltd, a manufacturer of birth control pills and pregnancy tests, saw an increase of 9.7 per cent following the ruling.

The law was previously upheld in 2008 with the court reasoning that adultery damages social order in South Korean society.

Thousands of spouses make criminal adultery complaints each year in the country, but imprisonment is rare.

Despite 892 indictments on adultery charges last year, no one was jailed.

A judge in Brazil presiding over a criminal trial against a businessman who was once the richest in Brazil was seen on Tuesday driving a Porsche – belonging to the disgraced tycoon.

Flavio Roberto de Souza, hearing the case of Eike Batista for insider trading, was spotted driving the white Porsche Cayenne by reporters for news agency Estado de S.Paulo following a tip-off from Mr Batista’s lawyer.

The car was among a number of vehicles confiscated by police this month after a court order was issued.

When the judge was asked why he was driving the car by local newspaperValor Economico he said he was just looking after it: “The Federal Police did not have a safe place for the car and it was exposed to sun, rain and possible damage.

“As I want the car to be preserved in good condition, I took it to a covered parking space (in the building where I live).

“I did not take it to use, just to look after it… It is a normal situation.”

The cars were supposed to be put up for auction but Mr Batista’s lawyer secured an injunction to stop the sale.

The incident is likely to help Mr Batista’s lawyer Sergio Bermudes, who has been trying to get judge de Souza removed from the case.

The judge is said to have told the media that Mr Batista’s career had been a “megalomaniac dream.”