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Chinese Kidney-For-iPad Case Sees Multiple Arrests

Last June, we told you about the truly WTF case of a 17-year-old Chinese high-schooler who made some deals and eventually ended up in a hospital getting his kidney extracted by black market surgeons. ...
Chinese Kidney-For-iPad Case Sees Multiple Arrests
Written by Josh Wolford
  • Last June, we told you about the truly WTF case of a 17-year-old Chinese high-schooler who made some deals and eventually ended up in a hospital getting his kidney extracted by black market surgeons. He gave up the organ for money – which is shocking enough on its own.

    But it was the reason for wanting the money that really made you go “huh.” The boy told Chinese newspapers that he just wanted to buy an iPad 2, but lacked the proper funds.

    “I wanted to buy an iPad 2 but could not afford it. A broker contacted me on the Internet and said he could help me sell one kidney for 20,000 yuan,” he said.

    According to a Reuters report, it looks as though some charges have been filed in the case. The incident, which reportedly happened in April 2011, was still being investigated when we last told you about it. Now, five men have been charged with intentional injury – one of the five being the actual surgeon who allegedly performed the operation.

    Apparently, one of the men charged (the orchestrator, it seems) received 220,000 yuan (around $35,000) to make the whole thing happen. 22,000 yuan went to the boy himself, and he split up the rest among the surgeon and nurses who performed the surgery.

    When we last reported on the kid, we mentioned that his health was in decline. That hasn’t changed – he is currently suffering renal failure.

    Just a note: The surname that the Reuters report gives for the boy involved doesn’t match the surname given when the story broke last summer. Back then is was “Zheng,” and now the kid’s being called “Wang.” All of the other info matches up, however – including the timeframe, all the monetary amounts mentioned, the locations of the boy’s home as well as the hospital where the surgery took place. We’re assuming this is the same kid – as no other kidney for iPad stories have emerged in the past few months.

    What’s the craziest thing you would do for a piece of technology that you really wanted? Let us know in the comments.

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