NANCHANG, July 26 -- Twelve suspects were sentenced to prison terms of up to nine anda half years for illegally trading human organs on Friday in east China's Jiangxi Province.
Chen Feng, head of the criminal gang, started the organ trade operation in May 2011 withJiang Zhenglin. Chen and others were responsible for looking for suppliers and buyerswhile Jiang, a doctor by profession, was in charge of performing medical operations.
They claimed online to pay more than 100,000 yuan (16,000 U.S. dollars) per kidney.Among nearly 40 potential "suppliers" they had recruited, 23 had one of their kidneysremoved for illegal transplants.
However, the victims did not get paid the amount promised. The gang led by Chen madeillegal profits of more than 1.5 million yuan (over 247,800 U.S. dollars) from October 2011to February 2012.
Chen alone made 435,000 yuan (over 69,600 U.S. dollars) through the unlawful trade. Hewas sentenced to nine and a half years in prison. Jiang, who is suspected of involvement inother crimes, will have his verdict announced later.
