/ 23 November 2010

Kidney transplant accused pleads guilty

Samuel Ziegler, one of the eight people accused of having been involved in the illegal kidney transplants, pleaded guilty to 50 charges against him.

The Durban Commercial Crimes Court heard that Ziegler knew that what he did was illegal.

Summonses were served on four surgeons, a doctor, a translator and another two former Netcare employees in October.

This came after Netcare KwaZulu Natal (NKZ) was convicted on charges related to human tissue crimes recently.

It pleaded guilty and received a R4-million fine for doing illegal kidney transplants.

NKZ faced 100 counts on three main charges, including that the hospital’s staff had illegally acquired kidneys between 2001 and November 2003.

It was also charged with performing transplants in which five of the suppliers were minors, and receiving payments for the operations.

To buy a surfboard
People — mainly Brazilians — were paid as little as R42 000 to donate their kidneys to Israeli patients.

Previously, the Mail and Guardian reported on allegations that a mother, husband and daughter each sold a kidney through the programme. In another case, young Brazilian surfer allegedly sold one of his kidneys to buy a surfboard.

According to a previous report in the Times, the charge sheet read: “Israeli citizens in need of kidney transplants would be brought to South Africa for transplants at St Augustine’s Hospital. They paid kidney suppliers for these operations”.

The kidneys “were initially sourced from Israeli citizens, but later Romanian and Brazilian citizens were recruited as their kidneys were obtainable at much lower cost than those of the Israeli suppliers”, it said.

Israelis were paid about $20 000 for their kidneys, while the Brazilians and Romanians were paid an average of $6 000, prosecutors said.

Five years ago South African police tried to bring a case against Israeli Ilan Perry, claimed to be the kingpin behind the syndicate.

That case was never brought forward, but now Perry has turned state witness, the Times said.

Meanwhille, Netcare’s CEO Dr Richard Friedland was accused of being aware of the illegal transplants and allowing them to continue but since NKZ pleaded guilty, charges against Friedland were unconditionally withdrawn.

None of those appearing in court on Tuesday are still employed by Netcare. — Sapa and M&G reporter