Chinese teen 'sells kidney' for iPad2

A 17-year-old boy in China sold his kidney to buy a computer and a phone, local media reported.

A 17-year-old boy in China sold his kidney to buy a computer and a phone, local media reported.

Shanghai Daily said the teen, named only as Zheng, from the eastern Anhui Province got 22,000 yuan (€2,350) for selling one of his vital organs.

But it was a decision he soon came to regret as his health is deteriorating, Shenzhen Satellite TV said.

"I wanted to buy an iPad 2 but could not afford it," said Zheng. "A broker contacted me on the internet and said he could help me sell one kidney for 20,000 yuan."

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On April 28th, Zheng went to Chenzhou City in neighboring Hunan Province to have the kidney removed in a surgery arranged by the broker.

His parents knew nothing about it, Zheng confirmed. He was paid 22,000 yuan after his right kidney was taken out at the Chenzhou No 198 Hospital.

When he returned home with an iPad 2 and an iPhone, his mother contacted the police. But they could not locate the broker and his phone was always off, the TV report said.

Hospital officials claimed they had no knowledge about Zheng's surgery because the department that was involved had been contracted out to a Fujian Province businessman.

The case is still under investigation, the report said.

Previously, it had been reported that many university students in Guangdong had decided to donate sperm in order to raise money to buy iPads and iPhones.

Local hospitals offer 300 yuan for each sperm donation and qualified donors attend hospital 10 times for each complete procedure.

Apple's iPad 2 sells for 3,688 yuan to 5,288 yuan and the iPhone for 3,999 yuan to 5,999 yuan in China.