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July 4, 2008

Judge warns: Organ trade won't be condoned

He gives two donors short jail terms, blaming syndicates for exploiting them

By Elena Chong, Court Correspondent

THE two poor Indonesians recently caught agreeing to sell their kidneys for over $20,000 each were given relatively light jail terms and fines yesterday.



The law will reserve a bigger punch for the shadowy syndicate that arranged the deal, said District Judge Bala Reddy.



Mere fines would not do for those running these syndicates, he said, adding: 'Longer custodial sentences should be reserved for the ringleaders and other major players in such syndicated offences who profit by exploiting the poor and disadvantaged.'



He said the duo knew they were breaking the law, but went ahead anyway because they needed the money.



Singapore law thus had to send a signal that commercial tra[...]