China's 'kidney for iPad' case goes on trial

Beijing: The sensational case of a teenager selling one of his kidneys to buy an iPhone and iPad came up for hearing at a court in central China where nine people, including a surgeon are on trial facing charges of intentional injury and illegal organ trade.

Judges at the People's Court in Beihu District of Chenzhou in Hunan province heard how 18-year-old Wang Shangkun, who sold his kidney to buy the new gadgets, became seriously ill after undergoing the illegal operation.

The nine people, including a surgeon, should be held criminally liable for intentional injury and illegal kidney trade, the prosecutors told the court yesterday, state media reported.

The main accused He Wei, who went bankrupt in gambling along with his associates started looking for donors in online chat rooms to make quick money.

He roped in Song Zhongyu, a surgeon from a provincial hospital in Yunnan province to remove a kidney from Wang, a high school student from Anhui province and transplanted it to a recipient in April last year.

Wang was paid 22000 Yuan (about USD 3525) after the operation, with which he bought iPhone and ipad.

He himself earned a profit of 56,360 yuan ( USD 8,800) in the deal and shared rest of the money with others.

After returning home and being questioned about where he got the money to buy the gadgets, Wang confessed to his mother that he sold one of his kidneys.

His case was highlighted by the local media and it hit the headlines around the world as it highlighted the lengths youngsters could go to buy electronic gadgets.

Wang later suffered from renal failure after the surgery and his family demanded 2.27 million Yuan compensation for the illegal removal of his kidney.

Police apprehended Wu and arrested the rest of the gang including two nurses, a surgical assistant and an

anaesthesiologist.

The five are accused of intentional injury and illegal organ trading and could get three to 10 years in prison if convicted and four others, charged with playing a minor role in the incident may get away with fines, state media reported.