"The suspects are being identified by their initials as HS, AG and DD," Senior Commissioner and head of the Sub-Directorate III of General Crimes of the National Polices Crime Investigation Department, Umar Surya Fana, said at the National Police Headquarters here on Wednesday.
HS was arrested in Jakarta while AG and DD were nabbed from Bandung, West Java. It is understood that HS liaisoned with hospitals while AG and DD recruited the victims.
Umar said AG received Rp80 million to Rp90 million to zero in on a candidate, who would be referred to DD to have his/her kidney checked in a laboratory in Bandung.
When it was confirmed that the kidney was in a good condition, the prospective recipient was given the laboratory test report.
HS, the victim and the recipient would meet a kidney specialist at a hospital in Jakarta to discuss the test result.
After that, the doctor would issue a reference letter to a hospital for a cross match blood test, CT Scan, heart, lung and psychiatric examination.
"After it was declared that the requirements of a kidney transplant were met, the results of the examination were sent to a team of doctors who would determine a date and carry out the transplant," he explained.
After that, HS would draft a letter of agreement signed by the family of the victim and the recipient prior to the operation.
"The letter would then be submitted by HS to the administration section of the hospital concerned," he added.
Umar said in this case, the kidney was priced between Rp225 and Rp300 million and an advanced payment of Rp10 million to Rp15 million was made.
"The rest of the payment was to be made after the transplant operation," he said.
He said the cost of the kidney excluded the operation cost which had to be borne by the recipient.
Umar said HS made a profit of Rp100 million to Rp110 million, AG was paid Rp5 million to Rp7.5 million, and DD got a share between Rp10 and Rp15 million.
The three suspects will be charged with having violated Article 64 Paragraph 3 of Law Number 36 of 2009 on health, stating that "body organs or tissues may not be traded for whatever reasons," he said.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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