Doctor Ngeth Samoun arrested for illegal trafficking of human organs


Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

A physician who serves as the general director of a run-down polyclinic facility in the municipality was prosecuted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and placed under arrest for allegedly engaging in the kidneys and organs and defrauding 18 victims out of about $1 million.

The guy was identified as Ngeth Samoun, the General Director of the Metro RLV Polyclinic, who resides in the Sen Sok area of Phnom Penh's O-Bek K'om commune, according to a court record dated January 25.


Article 22 of the Law on the Management of Donation Transplantations of Cell Tissues and Human Organs charges the accused of "illegal organ trafficking (kidney transplant)" and Articles 377 and 378 of the Criminal Code charge the accused of "fraud."

If found guilty, the accused may spend seven to fifteen years in prison.

The victim claimed there was illegal organ and kidney trafficking as well as a fraudulent case at the Metro RLV Polyclinic in O-Bek K'om commune, according to Brigadier General Keo Thea, Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Interior's Anti-Human Trafficking Department, who spoke with Khmer Times yesterday. The victim's complaint was received by police in the Ministry of Interior's Juvenile Protection and Anti-Human Trafficking Department on October 16 of last year.

Major General Soem Phanom, the Chief of the Ministry of Interior's Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department, led the team of professional police experts and investigators who looked into the victim's complaint, according to Brig Gen Thea.

He stated that the accused Ngeth Samoun was subsequently taken into custody on January 21 in the Keo Seima district of Mondulkiri province, in compliance with the arrest warrant issued by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

He said that Ngeth Samoun was first taken to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for interrogation following his arrest, and that he was then placed in temporary custody at the Correctional Centre 1 (CC1) while the pre-trial proceedings were ongoing.

According to Brig Gen Thea, organ donation and kidney transplant operations are both permitted under Cambodian legislation.

He added that the trafficking of kidneys or organs is however illegal and prohibited.

According to a police’ report, after the police's investigation in this case, 18 victims, who had kidney disease,  stayed at the Metro RLV Polyclinic in Sen Sok district.

According to the victims, they have already paid Ngeth Samoun a minimum of $50,000 to enable them to travel to India for a kidney transplant. However, they haven't yet visited India or undergone kidney transplants.

In connection with the case, the Ministry of Health issued an order on January 17 to cease all operations at the Metro RLV Polyclinic.

The Ministry of Health's instruction states that the Metro RLV Polyclinic's operations had been shut down due to a breach of the Law on the Management of Donation Transplantations of Cells, Tissues, and Human Organs.

Ngeth Samoun could not be reached for comment.

 

 

 

 

Buth Reaksmey Kongkea

A physician who serves as the general director of a run-down polyclinic facility in the municipality was prosecuted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and placed under arrest for allegedly engaging in the kidneys and organs and defrauding 18 victims out of about $1 million.

The guy was identified as Ngeth Samoun, the General Director of the Metro RLV Polyclinic, who resides in the Sen Sok area of Phnom Penh's O-Bek K'om commune, according to a court record dated January 25.

Article 22 of the Law on the Management of Donation Transplantations of Cell Tissues and Human Organs charges the accused of "illegal organ trafficking (kidney transplant)" and Articles 377 and 378 of the Criminal Code charge the accused of "fraud."

If found guilty, the accused may spend seven to fifteen years in prison.

The victim claimed there was illegal organ and kidney trafficking as well as a fraudulent case at the Metro RLV Polyclinic in O-Bek K'om commune, according to Brigadier General Keo Thea, Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Interior's Anti-Human Trafficking Department, who spoke with Khmer Times yesterday. The victim's complaint was received by police in the Ministry of Interior's Juvenile Protection and Anti-Human Trafficking Department on October 16 of last year.

Major General Soem Phanom, the Chief of the Ministry of Interior's Anti-Human Trafficking and Juvenile Protection Department, led the team of professional police experts and investigators who looked into the victim's complaint, according to Brig Gen Thea.

He stated that the accused Ngeth Samoun was subsequently taken into custody on January 21 in the Keo Seima district of Mondulkiri province, in compliance with the arrest warrant issued by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

He said that Ngeth Samoun was first taken to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for interrogation following his arrest, and that he was then placed in temporary custody at the Correctional Centre 1 (CC1) while the pre-trial proceedings were ongoing.

According to Brig Gen Thea, organ donation and kidney transplant operations are both permitted under Cambodian legislation.

He added that the trafficking of kidneys or organs is however illegal and prohibited.

According to a police’ report, after the police's investigation in this case, 18 victims, who had kidney disease,  stayed at the Metro RLV Polyclinic in Sen Sok district.

According to the victims, they have already paid Ngeth Samoun a minimum of $50,000 to enable them to travel to India for a kidney transplant. However, they haven't yet visited India or undergone kidney transplants.

In connection with the case, the Ministry of Health issued an order on January 17 to cease all operations at the Metro RLV Polyclinic.

The Ministry of Health's instruction states that the Metro RLV Polyclinic's operations had been shut down due to a breach of the Law on the Management of Donation Transplantations of Cells, Tissues, and Human Organs.

Ngeth Samoun could not be reached for comment.

 

 

 

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