China 'kidney for iPad' trial begins in Hunan

China 'kidney for iPad' trial begins in Hunan

 iPads are as sought-after in
China as in many other countries

Five people have gone on trial in
China for illegal organ trading and intentional injury after a student sold his
kidney to buy an iPad and iPhone.

The defendants include the surgeon who removed the kidney from the
17-year-old in the central province of Hunan.

They face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty, according to the
state-run Xinhua news agency.

The teenager, who suffered renal failure after the transplant, was said to be
too sick to attend the hearing.

The student, identified only as Wang, was recruited in an online chat room,
according to prosecutors.

They accused one of the defendants, He Wei, of arranging the illegal kidney
transplant last April in order to pay his gambling debts.

The group is said to have received around $35,000 (£22,000) for the transplant, while the student was reportedly given about $3,000 for his kidney.

He nearly died after suffering renal failure following the operation and is
said to still be in poor health.

Read more at BBC