Former state pathologist gets 10 year sentence for stealing body parts
A former Diepkloof principal specialist forensic pathologist has been sentenced to 10 years for the theft of human organs from dead bodies, the National Prosecuting Authority confirmed on Friday.
Doctor James Blair Mwesigwa, 60, was sentenced in the Kempton Park Regional court on Friday.
The State successfully proved that he had violated the corpse of Alida Scheepers after it was brought to him for a post-mortem examination, Gauteng NPA spokesperson Phindi Mjonondwane said.
"State advocate Riana Williams succeeded in leading evidence that convinced the court that Mwesiga removed without permission of the family and retained amongst others, the heart, lungs, pharynx and larynx from Scheepers' body."
The Daily Sun reported Mwesigwa was suspended from the Diepkloof mortuary in November 2013 after he tried to walk out of the mortuary with a bucket that contained a brain and heart.
The doctor failed to record and state reasons for performing such a procedure as prescribed by the law relating to the use of Human biological material in the National Health Act 61 of 2003.
Mwesigwa's argument was ruled unsubstantial and not compelling for him to be granted a lesser sentence. He had previously brought an application for leave to appeal to the High Court against conviction and sentence, which was dismissed.
