5 Doctors Charged in Organ Trafficking Scheme

New charges have been filed in an alleged organ trafficking conspiracy first exposed five years ago. Poor Brazilians and Romanians were reportedly paid an average of $6,000 for their kidneys, which were then illegally transplanted into rich Israelis by South African doctors at plush private hospitals. Israelis who gave their kidneys as part of the scheme got $20,000.

South African authorities tried to bring a case against alleged syndicate kingpin Ilan Perry years ago, but that went cold. Perry has now turned state witness, resulting in a renewed case in which five doctors and Richard Friedland, head of the country's top private hospital group Netcare, and the St Augustine Hospital in Durban are being charged. Prosecutors say 109 illegal operations were conducted between 2001 and 2003. More details at AFP and the Guardian.
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