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S.Africa: Illegal Trade in Human Organs

WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.

Original Post Date: 2003-12-07  Posted By: Jan

From the News Archives of: WWW.AfricanCrisis.Org
Date & Time Posted: 12/7/2003 3:21:15 PM
S.Africa: Illegal Trade in Human Organs

A Brazilian told a TV station in Brazil yesterday how, driven by dire financial straits, he jumped at the chance to have his kidney removed and sold out of a private clinic in Durban for $13 000.

The man from Recife, in the country’s largely poor north-east, showed network cameras his scar 48 hours after the arrest in Recife of 11 people – nine Brazilians and two Israelis – accused of ties to an international organs trafficking operation, and the arrest in Durban of two more Israelis on the same suspicions.

The man said he had had his surgery in November last year and claimed his kidney was transplanted to an Iraqi. He said he only received his $13 000 once back in his country.

Police estimated that some 30 organs were sold under the scheme. The 11 arrests this week were part of a secret nine-month operation, said Recife police spokesman Manoel Caetano.

Federal police said more people could be charged, noting that the authorities would remain in contact with Interpol and police in Durban.

Brazilian law forbids the selling of organs, even with the donor’s consent. It allows for organ donation only after death and with the consent of family members.

Meanwhile, the Durban man alleged to be a major player in the international syndicate illegally trading in human kidneys is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate’s Court today.

His arrest brings to three the number of people charged in the past two days in an ongoing investigation.

The removal and transplants allegedly took place at Durban’s St Augustines Hospital.

On Wednesday an Israeli man was arrested as he was being discharged from the hospital where he had just received a kidney transplant.

Another Johannesburg-based man was also arrested.

Police in Durban have interviewed several Brazilians who say they were lured here with offers of money in exchange for their healthy kidneys.

The syndicate apparently offers them $10 000 plus expenses to come to Durban and donate their kidneys.

These are then sold to desperate kidney patients – mainly Israelis – for up to $120 000.

Meanwhile, Netcare says it is unaware of any illegal financial transactions which may have occurred between donors and organ recipients.

“We are gravely concerned about the situation and doing everything to assist the police,” said Rory Passmore, general manager of St Augustines.

He said South Africa’s hospitals were recognised worldwide as centres of excellence in the field of organ transplants.

“South Africa has excellent transplant survival rates, coupled with favourable exchange rates.”

“These attract people requiring medical procedures from all over the world and could make SA vulnerable to possible illegal activities.”

Passmore said kidney transplants had been performed at the hospital on patients from all over the world, including the US, Israel, Brazil, Ethiopia and Romania. He said the investigating officer in the matter had confirmed that “the investigation does not involve St Augustines being party to illegal transactions”.

The third man arrested yesterday on suspicion of involvement in the alleged international human organ trafficking network was a 58-year-old South African citizen, said Senior Superintendent Mary Martins-Engelbrecht. He was allegedly an important member of the syndicate, she said.

Two other men allegedly linked to the syndicate were arrested in Durban on Tuesday, and appeared in the city’s magistrate’s court.

Israeli Agania Robel (42) and Meir Shushan (49), a South African of Israeli descent, were freed on bail of R5 000 and R15 000 respectively, and were ordered to appear in court again on February 10. They face charges under the Human Tissue Act.

“We are looking at the possibility that individuals in the medical profession may have been involved,” she said. – Sapa-AFP.

Source: Pretoria News
URL: http://www.pretorianews.co.za/index.php?fSect…br>