Two kidney transplant recipients were convicted of kidney trafficking and sentenced to prison.

On February 29, the People's Court of Hue City (Thua Thien Hue Province) held a first-instance trial of the case of human kidney trafficking.

The three defendants brought to trial include Nguyen Thanh Tu (34 years old, permanent residence in Rach Dua ward, Vung Tau city, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province), Nguyen Van Nghia (34 years old, residing in An Qui hamlet, An Thoi, Mo Cay Nam district, Ben Tre province) and Pham Le Tuan Anh (residing in Thua Thien Hue).

According to the indictment, Nguyen Thanh Tu and Nguyen Van Nghia were previously kidney transplant patients, so both of them knew the kidney donation and transplant process at a hospital in Hue.

Between 2021 and 2022, Tu and Nghia brokered the sale of kidneys three times for a total amount of VND 2.6 billion, earning a profit of VND 630 million.

Nghia alone brokered the sale of a kidney once for 800 million VND and earned 210 million VND.

Pham Le Tuan Anh was determined to have assisted in brokering the sale of a kidney once for the amount of 850 million VND.

After considering the nature of the case, the jury sentenced defendant Nguyen Thanh Tu to 7 years in prison and Nguyen Van Nghia to 5 years in prison for "buying and selling human body parts".

As for Pham Le Tuan Anh, the jury found that the defendant did not seek personal gain but only wanted to introduce him out of sympathy for a patient in the same situation as himself so that the victim could have a chance to live.

Therefore, the jury sentenced Pham Le Tuan Anh to 2 years in prison for the same crime but suspended the sentence.