Interim ruling announced in the 'Newborn Gang' trial: Decision made regarding 26 defendants

The second hearing of the 'Newborn Gang' trial was held today. An interim ruling was announced during the session.

POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 18

The court decided to send the case file to the higher court, the Bakırköy 23rd High Criminal Court, for the evaluation of the objection filed following the rejection of the defense attorneys' requests for the recusal of the judge. Furthermore, the court ordered the continued detention of all incarcerated defendants and the continuation of arrest warrants for fugitive defendants, adjourning the trial until February 18.

WHAT WAS IN THE INDICTMENT?

The indictment requested prison sentences ranging from 177 years and 6 months to 582 years and 9 months for defendants Fırat Sarı and İlker Gönen, based on charges of "causing death by negligence" regarding the deaths of 10 infants, "qualified fraud," and "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes," with the latter applied 10 times, and "forgery of official documents" applied 11 times.

For defendant Gıyasettin Mert Özdemir, a prison sentence ranging from 180 years to 589 years and 9 months was requested for the crimes of "causing death by negligence," "unlawful acquisition of personal data," "fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations," "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes," and "forgery of official documents." Additionally, prison sentences for similar crimes were sought for 44 defendants, 8 of whom are women.

The indictment also requested the application of security measures specific to legal entities for the hospitals and companies held responsible for obtaining financial gain through "fraud," including their closure and the seizure of their assets.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Today marked the second day of the second hearing at the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court, where 47 defendants, 26 of whom are in custody, are being tried on allegations of causing the deaths of at least 10 infants through negligence and obtaining illicit gains by transferring newborns to the neonatal units of private hospitals they had pre-arranged with in order to receive more money from the Social Security Institution (SGK).

News Source: 12punto