Kosovo: Organ harvesting charges

EU Prosecutor Jonathan Ratel has named seven people as suspects in an international organ trafficking network, The Associated Press (AP) reports.

Izvor: FoNet

Friday, 12.11.2010.

10:13

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EU Prosecutor Jonathan Ratel has named seven people as suspects in an international organ trafficking network, The Associated Press (AP) reports. The indictment states that “the organized criminal group” trafficked persons into Kosovo for the purpose of removing “human organs for transplant to other persons.” Kosovo: Organ harvesting charges It added that the investigation found that some 20 foreign nationals “were recruited with false promises of payments” in 2008. These persons were recruited in other countries and then transported and received at Pristina Airport through the false promise of payments for the removal of their kidneys. The prosecutor said victims were promised up to USD 20,000 (EUR 14,500) while recipients were required to pay between EUR 80,000 and 100,000 (USD 110,000-137,000). According to the indictment, the victims came from Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey and lived in extreme poverty or acute financial distress. Five Kosovo citizens, including Ilir Rrecaj, a former senior health ministry official, have been charged with five counts, ranging from people trafficking to unlawful exercise of medical activity and abuse of power. None of the suspects are in custody. Turkish doctor Yusuf Sonmez and Israeli Moshe Harel, who are subjects of several criminal proceedings in other countries, are wanted by Interpol. The prosecution claims that one of the five Kosovo citizens, surgeon Lutfi Dervishi “acted as leader” of the criminal group along with Sonmez and Harel. Dervishi and Sonmez then carried out the operations in the private medical clinic “Medicus” in Pristina managed by Dervishi's son, Arban Dervishi, who is also indicted. Harel was in charge of identifying, recruiting and transporting victims and “ensuring the delivery of cash payments by electronic bank transfer”. Two other doctors from Kosovo, Sokol Hajdini and Driton Jilta are also indicted. The officials said the prosecution could still add the names of other suspects to the indictment and details of their alleged crimes.

Kosovo: Organ harvesting charges

It added that the investigation found that some 20 foreign nationals “were recruited with false promises of payments” in 2008.

These persons were recruited in other countries and then transported and received at Priština Airport through the false promise of payments for the removal of their kidneys.

The prosecutor said victims were promised up to USD 20,000 (EUR 14,500) while recipients were required to pay between EUR 80,000 and 100,000 (USD 110,000-137,000).

According to the indictment, the victims came from Moldova, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkey and lived in extreme poverty or acute financial distress.

Five Kosovo citizens, including Ilir Rrecaj, a former senior health ministry official, have been charged with five counts, ranging from people trafficking to unlawful exercise of medical activity and abuse of power.

None of the suspects are in custody.

Turkish doctor Yusuf Sonmez and Israeli Moshe Harel, who are subjects of several criminal proceedings in other countries, are wanted by Interpol.

The prosecution claims that one of the five Kosovo citizens, surgeon Lutfi Dervishi “acted as leader” of the criminal group along with Sonmez and Harel.

Dervishi and Sonmez then carried out the operations in the private medical clinic “Medicus” in Priština managed by Dervishi's son, Arban Dervishi, who is also indicted.

Harel was in charge of identifying, recruiting and transporting victims and “ensuring the delivery of cash payments by electronic bank transfer”.

Two other doctors from Kosovo, Sokol Hajdini and Driton Jilta are also indicted.

The officials said the prosecution could still add the names of other suspects to the indictment and details of their alleged crimes.

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