Medics Under Cop Microscope

August 12, 2003

By Elsabé Brits

Cape Town - A number of people in KwaZulu-Natal are being investigated in connection with an organ-smuggling network uncovered last week.

National police spokesperson Mary Martins-Engelbrecht, who is also Interpol's spokesperson for South Africa, said the transplant operations did not happen of their own accord; therefore people in the medical profession had to be involved.

According to her, people who had been asked to donate organs, and actual donors, already had been questioned by police.

This comes after the arrest of three men in Durban last week.

The first to be arrested, Aganie Robel, a 42-year-old Israeli, was taken into custody when he left a private hospital after a kidney transplant.

The kidney had been bought from a poor Brazilian man.

Robel pleaded guilty in Durban magistrate's court on Friday and was fined R5 000 or two years in prison.

He admitted having bought the kidney for about R282 000.

After his sentencing, his travel documents were returned to him. He was told he could leave the country.

The kidney was sold by Roageria Bozerra da Silva from Brazil. He was paid about R37 600 for it.

Laid Complaints Against Two Doctors

The transplant was carried out at St Augustine's Hospital in Durban. Da Silva also had been admitted to the hospital.

At this stage, no charges have been brought against the donor, but police are in contact with him.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has asked the Netcare group, which owns the hospital, for a comprehensive report on allegations of illegal distribution of organs in South Africa.

Meir Shushan, the alleged middleman, was also arrested last week. He is out on R15 000 bail.

Roderick Frans Kimberley, a South African, was released on R60 000 bail on Friday.

According to a hospital spokesperson, Kimberley was co-operating with police and had denied involvement in the smuggling operation.

Anina Steele, spokesperson for the Council of Health Workers, said on Monday the KwaZulu-Natal health department had laid formal complaints against two doctors believed to be involved in the illegal organ-transplant network.

She said the council was expected to launch an investigation into the doctors' practices soon.

Copyright © 2003 www.News24.com

This article posted January 7, 2004.