A Chinese news agency reported on Friday that a clan of five culprits in Southern region of China have been charged with intentional injury in the case of a 17-year-old Chinese boy who sold his kidney to buy two famous Apple products – an iPhone and an iPad.
The teenager who is known as Zheng, did a search over Internet to find a way to get money, so he could buy himself an iPhone and an iPad. “I wanted to buy an iPad 2 but could not afford it,” Zheng told the Daily. “A broker contacted me on the Internet and said he could help me sell one kidney for 20,000 yuan.”
Apple products are very popular in China, but because of their high prices, many Chinese living in poor regions are unable to purchase them, and the same was the case with Zheng.
So in order to get his hands on two of his favorite products of Apple, on April 28, Zheng traveled from his residence in the Anhui province (one of China’s poorest provinces) to Hunan province to have his kidney transplanted.
After getting his kidney removed, Zheng got his 20,000 yuan, which is equal to about $3,170, and happily returned home with an iPhone and an iPad. When Zheng’s mother saw the gadgets and a “deep red scar on his body, which was caused by the kidney transplant surgery,” the teen admitted to selling his kidney.
After knowing about what Zheng did, his mother reported the police regarding the incident.
The police reacted quickly and investigated that the hospital where Zheng had his kidney taken out was not qualified to perform organ transplants. “The hospital claimed they had no idea about Zheng’s surgery because the department that did the surgery had been contracted to a Fujian businessman.” the Shanghai Daily report said.
While five people have been charged so far, the Xinhua News Agency today said “several other suspects involved in the case are still being investigated.”
On the other hand, Zheng’s health is rapidly deteriorating due to renal deficiency.
