Wouter Basson

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wouter Basson (born July 6, 1950 ) is a retired South African cardiologist and weapons researcher. From 1975 he worked for the South African Defense Force (SADF) and during this time he played a leading role in the development of the South African government's “ Project Coast ” killing program , which involved the creation of chemical and bacteriological weapons.

The media referred to him as Dr. for his research on killing methods during the apartheid period. Death ("Dr. Death").

Life

Little is known about the life of Wouter Basson; there are hardly any reliable sources. He was born the son of a police officer, studied medicine in Pretoria and was a member of the SADF from 1975 after completing his training. At the age of 30 he became commander of the 7th Medical Battalion, an air rescue unit of the SADF. He was recruited by Major NJ Nieuwoudt. His first duties at Project Coast included traveling to various European countries, including Great Britain, Denmark and the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as to the USA, in order to establish international contacts with medical and scientific research institutions and thus obtain the desired information for the planned secret project. He also made contacts with Iraq , Israel , North Korea , Iran , Colombia and the Philippines on his trips abroad .

When he was appointed head of the Coast Project in 1983, he was President Pieter Willem Bothas' personal physician , whom he accompanied on his travels. During this time he is engaged in research and testing of deadly substances. Project Coast also dealt with methods to be able to take targeted action against black people, for example through targeted sterility using pyridine . In the late 1980s, Basson also worked for the Civil Cooperation Bureau , which also used covert methods against opposition members.

Impeachment and trial

In 1996 he was relieved of his military post on full pay. In January 1997, the US CIA informed the South African government that Basson was preparing to flee South Africa. That same month he was arrested in Pretoria. At that time he was in possession of around 1,000 ecstasy pills and four steel suitcases with secret documents relating to the Coast project. The police also found letters in the suitcases documenting his contacts around the world. He was subsequently charged with multiple murders, fraud, embezzlement, drug possession and drug trafficking. The trial began in October 1999. Basson had previously testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission , but had not asked for an amnesty because he had acted solely on the basis of military orders. Basson was acquitted of all charges in 2002. Among other things, he benefited from the court's view that crimes committed outside South Africa could not be punished by a South African court. In 2005 the public prosecutor decided not to attempt a retrial. In 2011, Basson successfully ran a cardiology practice in the Cape Town district of Durbanville .

HPCSA judgment

On December 18, 2013, Basson was found guilty of four counts of bad faith by the South African Medical Association (HPCSA). The sentence was supposed to be announced in February 2014, but has been postponed several times. He eventually lost his license to practice medicine . The North Gauteng High Court , which had initially dismissed its action, ruled after an appeal on March 27, 2019 that two of the committee members were biased and the order of the HPSCA was invalid.

literature

  • Chandre Gould: Secrets and Lies. Wouter Basson and South Africa's Chemical and Biological Program. Struik Publishers, Johannesburg 2002.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Wouter Basson's 9,000 heart patients. In: Mail & Guardian of September 30, 2011 (English), accessed December 27, 2013
  2. ^ A b zeit.de: The poisoner of apartheid. Retrieved June 23, 2013 .
  3. ^ John Barton: Apartheid: Biological and Chemical Warfare Program ( Memento of February 5, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
  4. ↑ report at sahistory.org.za (English), accessed on 27 December 2013
  5. ↑ Report at politicsweb.co.za (English), accessed on February 17, 2014
  6. ^ Sentencing of Wouter Basson gets postponed. Mail & Guardian dated June 4, 2014, accessed October 26, 2014
  7. ^ Basson court application dismissed with costs. enca.com from April 22, 2016 (English), accessed on September 24, 2017
  8. ^ Zelda Venter: Tribunal Committee members ordered to recuse themselves over Basson hearing. In: IOL (www.iol.co.za). March 27, 2020, accessed on May 6, 2020 .
personal data
SURNAME Basson, Wouter
BRIEF DESCRIPTION South African cardiologist and weapons researcher
DATE OF BIRTH July 6, 1950