The case was initiated in 2003, when two victims complained to the court. The accused are charged with accompanying three victims for medical examinations and pre-surgical analysis. They also arranged the victims’ air transport to Turkey for surgery to extract their kidneys.
The victims were met at the destination by Israeli citizen Michael Zis, who, according to prosecutors, “moved them to a private medical clinic where they underwent surgery in which one kidney each was removed, as confirmed by reports of medical expertise.”
The accused then allegedly paid the victims $4,000 - $10,000.
Prosecutors allege that they are part of a wider organization working to persuade impoverished Moldovans to harvest their organs for a handsome sum since 2001.
According to a December 2010 investigation by Al Jazeera, organ trafficking has been a problem in Moldova for at least 15 years, but victims receive little acknowledgement or disability benefits from the government.
With an average monthly salary of 3,000 lei (€190), Moldova is one of the poorest countries in Europe. It has been widely acknowledged as a country of origin for many illegally harvested organs.
