Medicus owner guilty in organ trafficking case

PRISTINA The Pristina Basic Court sentenced Lutfi Dervishi and four others accused of carrying out illegal organ transplants between one and eight years in prison. Two other defendants were acquitted on Monday. Medicus owner guilty in organ trafficking case Dervishi is a urologist who was the owner of the Medicus Clinic in Pristina. Dervishi's son, Arban, was sentenced to seven years and three months, while three other defendants received between one and three years' imprisonment: Sokolj Hajdini got three years' imprisonment; Sulejman Dulla was sentenced to one year in prison and Islan Bytyqi to one year probation. Briton Zilta and Ilir Recaj have been cleared of involvement in the crimes. Besides the prison sentences, Lutfi Dervishi needs to pay a fine of EUR 10,000 and his son Arban a fine of EUR 2,500. Lutfi is also prohibited from exercising as a professional urologist for the period of two years. According to the indictment, at least 30 illegal kidney transplants were carried out at the clinic on the outskirts of Pristina. Dervishi was found guilty on charges of organised crime, trafficking in persons and co-perpetration. He played an important role in an organ trafficking ring which included six other Kosovo Albanians and two foreigners, who also faced charges of involvement in organized crime and other illegal activities at the Medicus Clinic. Turkish doctor Yusuf Sonmez and Moshe Harel, an Israeli citizen, were tried in absentia. According to the indictment, the ringleaders were Lutfi Dervishi, Sonmez and Harel. Not having an operating license, the Medicus Clinic was operating in violation of the law, while Sonmez had a working permit issued to him by the Kosovo Health Ministry. The clinic, shut down in 2008, was mentioned in a report by Council of Europe Rapporteur Dick Marty which itself covered allegations of atrocities in a separate case where members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) are suspected of trading in organs taken from the bodies of kidnapped Serbs and other civilians in 1999 and 2000. (sxc.hu, stock) Tanjug

Medicus owner guilty in organ trafficking case

Dervishi is a urologist who was the owner of the Medicus Clinic in Priština.

Dervishi's son, Arban, was sentenced to seven years and three months, while three other defendants received between one and three years' imprisonment: Sokolj Hajdini got three years' imprisonment; Sulejman Dulla was sentenced to one year in prison and Islan Bytyqi to one year probation.

Briton Zilta and Ilir Recaj have been cleared of involvement in the crimes.

Besides the prison sentences, Lutfi Dervishi needs to pay a fine of EUR 10,000 and his son Arban a fine of EUR 2,500. Lutfi is also prohibited from exercising as a professional urologist for the period of two years.

According to the indictment, at least 30 illegal kidney transplants were carried out at the clinic on the outskirts of Priština.

Dervishi was found guilty on charges of organised crime, trafficking in persons and co-perpetration. He played an important role in an organ trafficking ring which included six other Kosovo Albanians and two foreigners, who also faced charges of involvement in organized crime and other illegal activities at the Medicus Clinic.

Turkish doctor Yusuf Sonmez and Moshe Harel, an Israeli citizen, were tried in absentia. According to the indictment, the ringleaders were Lutfi Dervishi, Sonmez and Harel.

Not having an operating license, the Medicus Clinic was operating in violation of the law, while Sonmez had a working permit issued to him by the Kosovo Health Ministry.

The clinic, shut down in 2008, was mentioned in a report by Council of Europe Rapporteur Dick Marty which itself covered allegations of atrocities in a separate case where members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) are suspected of trading in organs taken from the bodies of kidnapped Serbs and other civilians in 1999 and 2000.