PRISTINA: An EU-led court in Kosovo yesterday sentenced five doctors to up to eight years in prison for illegal organ harvesting and transplants.
Former Kosovo health minister Ilir Rrecaj — who admitted during the trial that he knew that illegal kidney transplants were carried out at the Medicus clinic in Pristina in 2008, but denied covering them up — was acquitted. Prominent Pristina urologist Lutfi Dervishi got the stiffest term of eight years for “organised crime and human trafficking,” the judge said in the verdict.
His son Arban Dervishi was sentenced to seven years and three months while the other three defendants received between one and three years imprisonment.
Royal hoax caller to testify at British inquest
LONDON: An Australian radio presenter will give evidence at an inquest into the death of a nurse who hanged herself after putting through a hoax call seeking information on Prince William’s pregnant wife Kate, the presenter’s lawyers said yesterday.
Mel Greig asked to appear as an individual at the inquest into Jacintha Saldanha’s death, which provoked worldwide anger at the radio DJ’s actions. “(Greig) is determined to address any questions surrounding her role in these tragic events as part of the inquest,” her lawyers Slater & Gordon said in a statement.
Dutch royal handover today
AMSTERDAM: Queen Beatrix will pass the crown to her eldest son Willem-Alexander today, making him the first king of the Netherlands in over 120 years and the Dutch are getting ready for a party. Orange, the royal colour, is everywhere. Houses are covered in bunting and flags. Shop windows are stuffed with orange cakes, sweets, clothes and flowers. April 30, or Queen’s day, is always a day for partying in the Netherlands.
Agencies
