A District Court in South Korea recently imposed a fine of KRW3 million or RM10, 369 on a woman in her 50s after she promised to donate part of her liver to a company chairman in exchange for the businessman to give a job to her son. However, the proposed liver transplant never actually materialised as the woman contracted Covid-19 shortly before the operation.
As reported by South Korean news portal Hanyoreh, the man who was supposed to receive the liver transplant was the chairman of a construction company and has since died. During the hearing, the Court heard how the woman, identified as Ms K in February this year heard from a friend that the chairman of a sizeable construction company was seriously ill and needed a liver transplant.
Ms K was then connected with an employee at the company and met with the chairman’s son. During the meeting, she said that she was willing to donate her liver in exchange for a job for her son at the construction company as well as KWR100 million or RM345,638. The chairman’s son then agreed to Ms K’s terms.
Afterwards on 7 March 2022, Ms K entered a hospital in Seoul to be tested prior to the liver transplant and pretended to be the daughter-in-law of the chairman. She was then approved as an organ donor a week later by the South Korean National Institute of Organ, Tissue and Blood Management.
However, after being admitted to the hospital for the transplant, Ms K was diagnosed with Covid-19 which delayed the operation. As her stay at the hospital prolonged, a nurse found Ms K’s relationship with her caregivers suspicious and reported her to the relevant bodies for organ trafficking.
The liver transplant was then cancelled and while the investigation was underway, the construction company chairman eventually died in July this year. During the trial, the Seoul Central District Court’s criminal division ordered Ms K to pay the KRW3 million fine for violating the Organ Transplant Act.
So, what do you guys think of the events that transpired? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
