Turkish organ trade doctor faces 171 years in prison

Turkish public prosecutor requested a 171-year prison sentence for Turkish doctor Yusuf Sonmez, accused of involvement in human organ trafficking in Kosovo. Sonmez is charged with performing at least 11 organ removal surgeries at the Medicus private clinic in Pristina, Pristina electronic media have reported. Turkish organ trade doctor faces 171 years in prison The Istanbul court indicted Sonmez for illicit organ trafficking and forming of a criminal organization. The organs were being sold in Israel. The court also requested a sentence of 171 years in prison for the mediator, Israeli Moshe Harel. EULEX issued an indictment against Sonmez as well, but Turkey does not extradite its citizens. The improvised Medicus clinic in Pristina is also mentioned in Council of Europe Rapporteur Dick Marty’s report on trade in organs of kidnapped and imprisoned civilians in Kosovo during the war 12 years ago, which qualified Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci as the first link in the criminal chain. EULEX formed a special team to handle the investigation based on the Marty report. Yusuf Sonmez (Tanjug, file)

Turkish organ trade doctor faces 171 years in prison

The Istanbul court indicted Sonmez for illicit organ trafficking and forming of a criminal organization.

The organs were being sold in Israel.

The court also requested a sentence of 171 years in prison for the mediator, Israeli Moshe Harel.

EULEX issued an indictment against Sonmez as well, but Turkey does not extradite its citizens.

The improvised Medicus clinic in Priština is also mentioned in Council of Europe Rapporteur Dick Marty’s report on trade in organs of kidnapped and imprisoned civilians in Kosovo during the war 12 years ago, which qualified Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci as the first link in the criminal chain.

EULEX formed a special team to handle the investigation based on the Marty report.