Medicus owner guilty in organ trafficking case
The Pristina Basic Court sentenced Lutfi Dervisi, an urologist and owner of the infamous Medicus Clinic in Pristina, and four others accused of carrying out illegal organ transplants at the clinic to between one and eight years in prison, while acquitting two other defendants, on Monday.
(kosovocompromisestuff) Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Dervisi'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 Dula was sentenced to one year in prison and Islan Bitici to one year probation.
Briton Zilta and Ilir Recaj have been cleared of involvement in the crimes.
Besides the prison sentences, Lutfi Dervisi 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.
Dervisi 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 Dervisi, 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 the Council of Europe, where it is stated that members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army traded in organs taken from bodies of Serbs and other non-Albanians captured in 1998 and 1999.
Briton Zilta and Ilir Recaj have been cleared of involvement in the crimes.
Besides the prison sentences, Lutfi Dervisi 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.
Dervisi 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 Dervisi, 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 the Council of Europe, where it is stated that members of the so-called Kosovo Liberation Army traded in organs taken from bodies of Serbs and other non-Albanians captured in 1998 and 1999.
