Another family victimized by the ‘Newborn Gang’: They told 12punto, ‘My baby was sacrificed’

Beste ÇELİK - 12punto.com.tr

In the trial of 47 defendants in Istanbul, who are accused of referring newborn emergency patients to the neonatal units of private hospitals they had pre-arranged agreements with, causing their deaths and obtaining illicit gain, it has been alleged that another baby named Sare Çınar was killed by the defendants mentioned in the case file. Mother Merve Çınar, who reached out to 12punto, recounted the process they went through step by step.

“A BRIGHTNESS WAS SEEN IN THE BABY’S BRAIN”

Stating that she began her pregnancy process at Esenler Medipol Hospital, Çınar said, “At first there were no problems, then in the 3rd month of my pregnancy, my doctor saw a brightness in my baby’s brain; my doctor there was very good. Because a brightness was seen in the brain, I wanted to move to a larger hospital. Afterwards, I couldn’t decide which hospital to go to immediately, and with referrals, we moved to Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital in the 5th month of my pregnancy. First, I went before a board, and the brightness in her brain and the problem with her heart were discussed in the board,” she stated.

“THEY REFERRED HER TO BEYLİKDÜZÜ MEDİLİFE HOSPITAL”

Describing the moment of birth and the subsequent process of being referred to Medilife Hospital, one of the hospitals mentioned in the file, Çınar said, “The birth took place at Çam and Sakura on 23.08.2021. Because my baby had a heart anomaly and hypertension in one of her veins, she had to stay in the neonatal unit after birth. After I gave birth at Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital and was taken to my room, the nurse informed me that there was no space for the baby and that a transfer was necessary. So that my child wouldn’t be left outside, I accepted the hospital the nurse suggested, and they suddenly transferred the baby to Beylikdüzü Medilife Hospital. I didn’t even know such a hospital existed. Because they gave a 2-day admission at Çam Sakura State Hospital, I wasn’t with my baby at first; my husband was in the back of the ambulance. He said there was another doctor. Then a different doctor took care of her. 3 days later, when I recovered, I met with my baby’s doctor in intensive care and with my baby,” she said.

“I PAID 500 TL WITH THE MONEY OF 3 YEARS AGO”

Stating that they made a payment to the hospital, Çınar said, “It was also said that my baby would be visually impaired, so the doctor came from outside; he was not that hospital’s doctor. 500 liras were paid with the money of 3 years ago. I sent the IBAN directly to the doctor, but I never saw the doctor. It was said that he examined the child. I only spoke on the phone. Afterwards, the hospital said there was no visual impairment,” she stated.

“THE DOCTOR CAME AFTER THE DEATH”

Çınar described the moment of baby Sare’s death as follows:

“On 04.01.2022, at 4 AM, we were called by the nurses, and while we were on the way, they called again at 04.40 and said her heart had stopped. When we arrived, she was dead and the machines had been disconnected. The doctor was notified after us. There was no doctor on duty either, only nurses. When our doctor arrived, he said he was very surprised by the news of the death. The doctor wrote the epicrisis report.”

“MY BABY WAS SACRIFICED”

Stating that her baby remained in intensive care for 4 and a half months during this process, Çınar said, “My baby had a heart anomaly. My baby swelled up, she couldn’t be treated, there was negligence; I tried very hard for a transfer to another hospital, but she stayed in intensive care for 4 and a half months and no transfer took place. I think my baby was neglected, she was sacrificed,” she declared.

(Baby Sare Çınar)

“WE MUST BE IN THIS FILE”

One of the family’s lawyers, Atty. Burcu Yıldız Alver, stated that they want to be included in the “Newborn Gang” case, saying, “We have been acting as lawyers since 20.10.2024 for the mother who is not in the indictment of this case but who has been directly harmed by the defendants of this indictment. The events took place at Medilife Hospital. The baby lost her life in the neonatal unit. This harm was caused in hospitals where the names of members accused of being the leader of the organization have been mentioned. Since we are directly harmed by the crime, we need to be in this file. However, the presiding judge says that they have not yet made a decision on this matter and will decide after the questioning of the defendants is finished. However, in our opinion, this is not an appropriate situation in terms of criminal procedure. Because if we take our place in the hearing rows, we will be able to direct questions to the defendants being questioned. We will also have done our part as the defense counsel in ensuring that a fair trial takes place and that everyone reaches a concrete reality,” she said.

“THE PRIORITY IS HUMAN LIFE”

Claiming that the defendants are trying to portray the event on a different ground, Atty. Alver concluded her words by saying, “We took on this duty voluntarily because we are mothers and fathers. If we do not protect these children today, those who come after them will take this as a precedent. On the other hand, the defendants are trying to portray the event as qualified fraud, as if they hadn’t killed anyone and were not responsible for anyone’s death. The priority here is human life. The right to life derives its source from the constitution.”