REPRIMAND FOR SCIENTIST WHO WOULD KIDNAP CHIMPANZEES

HIV-chimp doctor in dog box
Andre Jurgens

The government doctor with plans to illegally capture an endangered species of chimpanzee for use in HIV vaccine tests did not have permission to conduct the experiment.

This was confirmed by Department of Health officials, who acted swiftly to reprimand 65-year-old Dr Victor Toma this week.

Toma was identified by the Sunday Times as the man behind an anonymous newspaper advertisement for an HIV "pilot study in chimpanzees".

Toma is employed by the state at the Kimberley Hospital complex as a consultant specialising in blood diseases.