Brasília, May 12, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Members of the CPI (Parliamentary Investigation Commission) that is looking into organ traffic plan to travel to South Africa to conduct outside hearings for an on-site verification of that country's connections with a gang that traffics human organs and operates in Brazil. A motion by Deputy Perpétua Almeida (PCdoB-AC) to authorize the hearings was approved by the CPI today.

According to the Deputy, the CPI should investigate and determine the methods that are employed, interrogate suspects and witnesses, and visit the clinics, hospitals, and other buildings that are used, as well as become acquainted with the entire scheme established to traffic organs obtained from Brazilians.

According to the president of the Commission, Neucimar Fraga (PL-ES), the CPI has already collected accusations of organ traffic as well as the removal of organs from Brazilians in Africa. He informed that on May 20, the Commission will hear the testimony of Maria Elida dos Santos, a Brazilian missionary who works in Mozambique.

Fraga said that the missionary denounced an organ traffic network and the assassination of Brazilian children. She has received death threats.

Translator: David Silberstein