He says he introduced medical concierge to wife's ailing uncle because he was sorry for him
By
Elena Chong, Courts Correspondent
Whang (left) is accused of abetting Mr Tang and Wang in their kidney deal for a fee. -- ST PHOTO: LAU FOOK KONG
A MAN on trial for abetting his relative and a friend in an illegal agreement to buy a kidney has denied that he ever profited from introducing the two.
Businessman Whang Sung Lin, 45, took the stand for the first time yesterday since his trial began a week ago.
About this case
WHANG Sung Lin has claimed trial to intentionally abetting an illegal organ transplant in return for a fee last year.
He is accused of instigating Mr Tang Wee Sung, the former executive chairman of retail giant CK Tang, to enter into an arrangement with Wang Chin Sing to get him a live kidney donor.
He said he had felt sorry for his wife's ailing uncle, former CK Tang executive chairman Tang Wee Sung, when he suggested that his friend, Wang Chin Sing, 44, could help him find a replacement kidney.
Last year, Mr Tang agreed to pay Wang $300,000 to procure a kidney for transplant from an Indonesian. It is illegal to pay for organs, and the scheme was later exposed before it could be completed.
The two men met through Whang, who is married to Mr Tang's niece.
Yesterday, Whang told the court he had at first been reluctant to get involved because he was not close to Mr Tang.
He had known about Mr Tang's diabetic kidney disease for two to three years and learnt in April last year - from Wang - that his wife's uncle needed a kidney transplant.
Wang, who was known in medical circles as a medical concierge, said he could help Mr Tang but needed Whang to introduce them.
'I told him I didn't want to be involved. Not interested,' Whang said, adding that he did not know Mr Tang well.
But he changed his mind when he saw Mr Tang at home on May 2 last year, and realised how sick he was.
Read the full story in today's edition of The Straits Times
