Charges dropped against surgeons in kidney scandal

FOUR top Durban surgeons implicated in the international cash- for- kidneys scandal emerged jubilant from the Commercial Crimes Court yesterday after all the charges against them were finally officially withdrawn by the State.

However, they alleged in an exclusive statement to Week- end Argus sister title The Independent on Saturday that the truth had not yet emerged regarding the illegal international kidney transplants, during the almost 10- year long prosecution. They were “deeply concerned” about the way in which the legal process had been followed.

Professor John Robbs, Dr Mahadev Naidoo, Professor Ariff Haffejee and Dr Neil Christopher, who appeared briefly in court at John Ross House in Durban yesterday, said they were “delighted that the charges against us have been finally and officially withdrawn”.

This follows their successful application in the Durban High Court for a permanent stay of prosecution in November.

The surgeons, and former staff of the St Augustine’s Hospital transplant unit Lindy Dickson and Melanie Azor, now doctors, were charged with assisting in 90 illegal kidney transplant operations in contravention of the Human Tissue Act between 2001 and 2003, when poor Brazilians allegedly sold their kidneys to wealthy Israeli patients for cash.

Netcare KwaZulu- Natal pleaded guilty and paid a fine of R4 million, and agreed to a R3.8m confiscation order in November 2010.

However, Magistrate Melvin Govender stood down the matter regarding Dickson and Azor, who were unavailable to attend court yesterday.

The surgeons, after sitting serious-faced in the dock for the last time, were in good spirits while addressing the media outside. They did however express indignation at the way the case had been handled by the criminal justice system.

“It is astounding that without one shred of credible evidence against us that this matter could have dragged on for approximately 10 years,” the doctors said.