Netcare CEO still in charge

The chief executive of South Africa's biggest private hospital group, Netcare, will remain in his job while facing criminal charges for his alleged role in an international kidneys-for-sale syndicate.

The group's board of directors yesterday confirmed their support for Netcare, its chief executive, Richard Friedland, St Augustine's Hospital and two of the hospital's transplant unit staff, a day after they were summonsed on 11 charges.

These include 109 counts of fraud, 21 of forgery, 21 of uttering, 109 of serious assault, and of contravening the Human Tissues Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

The board said it is confident that the charges will be successfully fought in court.

The charge sheet states that the 11 accused were involved in an "illegal scheme" to give kidney transplants to wealthy Israelis, using organs donated by poor Brazilians, Romanians and Israelis.