Newborn Gang leader Fırat Sarı: 'We have been burning in this fire for 10 months'

The trial of 46 defendants, including leaders and members of the Newborn Gang, who generated illicit profits by referring infants to contracted hospitals in Istanbul and caused their deaths through negligent behavior, continues. The hearing, held at the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court, was attended by some of the detained and non-detained defendants, as well as the lawyers for the parties.

REQUEST FOR DISMISSAL REGARDING İLKER GÖNEN

Presenting his opinion at the hearing, the public prosecutor requested that the case against defendant İlker Gönen be dismissed due to his death and that his phone be returned to his family. On the other hand, the prosecutor requested that the detention status of all detained defendants be continued due to the fact that evidence has not yet been fully collected.

"İLKER'S SUICIDE IS NOT THE END, WE ALL SHARE THIS THOUGHT"

In his defense, detained defendant Dursun Eryılmaz, who stated that he has been in custody for 10 months, said, "I want to talk about the death of my friend İlker. He was the most rational among us. He committed suicide due to pressure and violence. We are serving our time as convicts. We are allowed one hour of fresh air a day, and we are constantly being harassed during the ventilation time. İlker's suicide is not the end; we all share this thought. I request my release."

Detained defendant Çağla Durmuş, who also presented her defense, said, "I have been accused of being a murderer for 10 months. I am very tired of being mistreated and tortured. I want to go to my family."

"THE LAWYERS HERE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY DEATH THAT MAY OCCUR IN THIS GROUP"

Speaking about İlker Gönen's suicide, the organization leader and detained defendant Fırat Sarı said, "I lost a valuable colleague and friend, and we do not accept a lawyer coming out and declaring us baby killers. If these things happen to us, you are responsible for it. The lawyers here are responsible for every death that may occur in this group. İlker was a father of three and not someone who would do such a thing. Baby deaths emerged, and the prosecutor followed them. If we were killing babies, why didn't the prosecutor say 'stop'? The prosecutor is responsible for the deaths of the babies, the police are responsible; why didn't they order an autopsy? İlker told me, 'Speak up loudly.' I know you will judge us; kill us. A directive came at the beginning; a complaint was made against a friend named Deniz Korkmaz who had a relationship with us. This CİMER complaint was forced upon us," he stated.

"IF YOU WANT A FAIR TRIAL, YOU NEED TO BAN THE MEDIA"

Continuing his defense, Sarı said, "If we were guilty, İlker would not have committed suicide. İlker was a source of strength for us here. He stood before us with scientific evidence. We are not criminal people. I was tried for an incident when I was 20 years old. A friend of ours took his own life. There was confidentiality in the investigation, but we learned everything from the media. We have become unable to build a life. I am very curious about what kind of report the Social Security Institution (SGK) will provide while there is so much perception management. We have been burning in a fire for 10 months. We are living in terrible detention conditions. If you want a fair trial, you need to ban the media. If there is to be justice, it must be for everyone. Last hearing, they requested the recusal of the judge. We have concerns about not receiving a fair trial. If I am still standing and not dead, it is so that the truth may come out," he said.

The hearing continues with the defenses of the defendants.