Man sells kidney for RM100,000 to settle father’s debt

KUALA LUMPUR: A man has sold one of his kidneys for RM100,000 to clear his father’s debt to loan sharks.

According to Kosmo, Zurrad, a 31-year-old clerk, disclosed that his father had taken out a loan for investment purposes, which unfortunately led to significant financial losses.

In December 2022, Zurrad decided to advertise his kidney on Facebook after being relentlessly pursued by loan sharks.

“Our family was unaware of my father’s financial troubles until he sold his old car, claiming it was rarely used,” Zurrad explained. “It turned out that the car sale was intended to pay off the debt, but the funds were still inadequate, leaving us constantly harassed by the loan sharks.”

After five months of posting the advertisement, Zurrad received several inquiries. He noted that he had to undergo numerous procedures to ensure his kidney was a match for the recipient.

Eventually, he connected with a buyer from Johor, who needed a kidney for his father suffering from chronic kidney disease.

“The kidney transplant process took a year. The buyer agreed to pay me RM100,000 and also covered the RM150,000 cost of the procedure at a private hospital,” Zurrad said.

Now, six months after living with one kidney, Zurrad feels relieved but acknowledges the health risks involved, all for the sake of his family’s financial stability.

It was reported yesterday that some individuals are openly selling kidneys on Facebook due to financial difficulties, despite the illegality of the practice. This activity was detected in a Kidney Donor Search group, where kidneys were being advertised for as much as RM55,000. The group has been active since December 2022, with many sellers sharing personal details with potential buyers.