Breaking News: Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu makes statement on the Newborn Gang

The Newborn Gang, which caused the deaths of numerous babies and generated illicit profits by transferring newborns to private hospitals in Istanbul and Tekirdağ, has become the top agenda item in Turkey.

The investigation into the baby-killer gang was initiated on May 21, 2023, under the coordination of the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, following a tip-off from the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate.

The indictment against 47 suspects, 22 of whom are under arrest, was prepared on October 16.

Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu, who has faced significant public reaction regarding the Newborn Gang scandal, answered questions at the AA Editör's Desk.

Stating that they requested help from the police on May 5, 2023, Minister Memişoğlu said, "'We want to provide evidence for this. Because we have such a suspicion,' we said. On September 25, 2023, we conducted extraordinary inspections of the hospitals."

"COMPLAINT FILED WITH CIMER ON MARCH 27"

Highlights from Minister Memişoğlu's statements are as follows:

"A complaint application is created with CIMER on March 27. This complaint is forwarded on March 28. This complaint is forwarded to the Ministry's inspection board and the Provincial Health Directorate. It is observed that the Provincial Health Directorate takes action to do what is necessary. Inspections are carried out, and instructions are given.

"THE GANG MANIPULATES SO WELL THAT WE CANNOT FIND EVIDENCE"

Our colleagues said that this gang is such a gang that they manipulate things and we cannot find evidence. Therefore, we requested support from the police on May 5, 2023, as a routine measure. There is such a suspicion. We reported that they were abusing the Social Security Institution (SGK) by keeping babies in intensive care longer than necessary and sending them to hospitals.

"POLICE OBTAIN PERMISSION FROM THE CHIEF PUBLIC PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE FOR SURVEILLANCE ON JUNE 20, 2023"

Since the babies have intensive care needs, they manipulate this and convey it to our teams. It could have been like this there too: Nothing came out of the inspection, we are not continuing this. But we did not do that. If you are going to impose a penalty, you must have concrete evidence. Provide support for whatever the police and the prosecutor's office want from you. The police obtained permission from the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for wiretapping and surveillance on June 20, 2023.

"WIRETAPPING OF APPROXIMATELY 300 PEOPLE BEGINS"

A confidentiality order is also issued. On September 4, 2023, it is requested that the police bureau chief's office apply to the prosecutor's office. The wiretapping of approximately 300 people begins. Our colleagues have worked in cooperation with the police so far. On September 25, we conducted an extraordinary, instantaneous inspection. This is the time when information was obtained from the file. On September 28, we formed a commission across Istanbul. As a result of the evaluation of the files in the hospitals inspected on September 25, this commission submitted the reports to the police. The biggest reason for us forming the commission on September 28, 2023, is the process of examining the inspections and creating concrete evidence.

When we conduct inspections, it is not clear where anyone will go. We sent them to hospitals by giving them envelopes. We carried out these inspections under police coordination. Our inspectors established contact with the Büyükçekmece Prosecutor's Office. They also said, 'Inspect the places you go to.' In essence, an operation was carried out against a large gang, an incredible organization was dismantled with the power of the state, but there is a redirection on social media saying 'You did nothing while babies were dying,' unfortunately, they do not know the subject very well."

News Source: 12punto