'Newborn gang' leader Fırat Sarı's record reveals PKK ties: 'I spent 5 years in prison'

The investigation into the gang that generated illicit profits by referring babies to contracted hospitals in Istanbul and caused their deaths through negligent behavior has been completed, and a summary of proceedings (fezleke) has been prepared. 

The summary of proceedings was sent to the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office for evaluation. The indictment was prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and sent to the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court.

SARI'S TESTIMONY EMERGES

While the court's review of the indictment is ongoing, the testimony of one of the organization's leaders, Fırat Sarı, has emerged.

Doctor Fırat Sarı, an employee of Reyap Hospital and owner of the Medisense company, stated in his testimony that he did not wish to benefit from effective remorse provisions, saying, "I graduated from Trakya University Faculty of Medicine. 

When I was studying at medical school, I was convicted of membership in the PKK terrorist organization and spent about 5 years in prison. After prison, I returned to my school, finished my studies, and graduated.

After completing my 3-year mandatory service in the Kiğı district of Bingöl, I worked at various hospitals in Istanbul.

I founded Medisense Health Services about 7-8 years ago. I am the 100 percent shareholder. I earn my living by practicing my profession as a doctor," he said.

"EVERYTHING IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH PROCEDURE"

Regarding the accusations against him, Fırat Sarı stated, "None of the incidents regarding the employment of an insufficient number of nurses in the neonatal intensive care unit, babies 'passing away' due to lack of care, the assignment of external on-call nurses, or the preparation of lists as if staff were working in the intensive care unit while they were actually working in another department of the hospital are true. 

There are no babies who 'passed away' due to lack of care as alleged. Normally, one nurse should care for 4 babies in intensive care. A full-time doctor should be working. I am that full-time doctor. Everything is in accordance with procedure."

"MONEY FOR MOTIVATION..."

Regarding the funds received when his account transactions were examined, Fırat Sarı said, "The money sent by my company and myself is, as I have explained before, money sent for motivation to the employees at the hospital where I provide consultancy."

"HE DID NOT GIVE INSTRUCTIONS"

Sarı's testimony continued  as follows:

"It is out of the question for me to give instructions to any doctor, nurse, or any healthcare worker working in the hospitals. 

I never told anyone to show a baby who was not intubated as intubated, to show a Level 1 baby as Level 2 or 3, or to show treatments that were not administered as if they had been, including to hospital accounting departments."

Furthermore, I did not give any instructions regarding the hiding of Curosurf or any other medication, taking them out of the hospital, selling them externally, or showing them as if they were administered to a patient when they were not," he stated.