SINGAPORE: In the first case of its kind, two Indonesian men have been convicted of organ trading. 26-year-old Sulaiman Damanik and 27-year-old Toni, both Indonesians, are due to be sentenced next week.

Both men also pleaded guilty in a Subordinate Court on Friday to making false declarations to a hospital transplant ethics committee.

The court heard that Sulaiman Damanik had agreed to donate his kidney for 150 million rupiah or about S$23,700 in an arrangement made with several people earlier this month.

He had lied that there were no financial gains involved in the living donor transplant and that he was related to Tang Wee Sung, the intended recipient named in court documents.

Channel NewsAsia is unable to confirm at this point if Mr Tang is CK Tang's 56-year-old executive chairman, who is known to be suffering from kidney disease.

Sulaiman said that his aunt was married to the brother-in-law of Mr Tang's niece. But Sulaiman was found out before the transplant could be carried out.

The transplant operation involving Toni went ahead with his kidney going to a woman named Juliana Soh.

Toni, who admitted to acting as a middleman between Sulaiman and Mr Tang, received 186 million rupiah or about S$29,390 for his kidney. The operation took place in March.

Both men will be sentenced next week.

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said that a number of Singaporeans are assisting with the investigation.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said his ministry will take action against anyone engaging in illegal human organ transactions.

He said he understands that some patients may be desperate because it's a life and death situation. But, still, he stressed they should never break the law.

Mr Khaw said: "It is wrong to do so. But of course there are people who are desperate and they may push the boundary. So I think we have to be alert and each time we hear of such an allegation, we have to investigate and if people break the law, then they have to face the law."

He added that if Singapore wants to be a regional hub for organ transplantation, it not only needs high clinical standards but also ethical standards.

Mr Khaw said the ethics committee in hospitals was set up to thoroughly interview and counsel patients as well as donors to ensure proper consent. Otherwise, cases of exploitation will occur.

He added: "It's either your relative who wants to donate (their organ) to give to their relative or for various other reasons. But it must be purely altruistic and not as a result of exchange of money."

Under the Human Organ Transplant Act, it is a criminal offence to enter into a contract or arrangement under which a person agrees to the sale or supply of any organ or blood for valuable consideration.

Those convicted can be jailed for up to 12 months, or fined S$10,000, or both.

In a statement, MOH said that it takes a serious view of such illegal acts.

It added that organ trading often involves the exploitation of the poor and socially disadvantaged donors who are unable to make an informed choice and suffer potential medical risks.

Organ trading is largely prohibited around the world. - CNA/vm