Newborn gang operation kept hidden from Fahrettin Koca!

The investigation into the 'Newborn gang,' which deeply shook Turkey, was not reported to the then-Minister of Health, Fahrettin Koca. Due to confidentiality, correspondence was conducted in an encrypted electronic environment rather than on paper.

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Newborn gang operation kept hidden from Fahrettin Koca!

New details are emerging in the Newborn gang scandal, which caused the deaths of 12 babies. In the initial phase of the operation, the Newborn gang investigation was kept hidden from the then-Minister of Health, Fahrettin Koca, and was restricted to only four people to prevent leaks until it reached the prosecutor's office. Among the hospitals involved in the scandal is the "Private Avcılar Hospital," where former Minister of Health Mehmet Müezzinoğlu is a partner.

WHO KNEW ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION?

According to information reported by journalist Murat Yetkin in Yetkin Report, it was decided to conduct the investigation in secret because there were suspicions of gang formation and it was unknown whether there were internal leaks. Aside from the then-Istanbul Provincial Health Director, the current Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, and a chief commissioner, an official from the Legal Consultancy and Serdal Zelyut, who passed away from cancer during the investigation, conducted the work in secret.

THE THEN-MINISTER KOCA WAS NOT INFORMED, CORRESPONDENCE WAS CONDUCTED IN AN ENCRYPTED ELECTRONIC ENVIRONMENT

Even Minister Koca was not informed of the secret work. To maintain confidentiality, correspondence was not put on paper and was instead conducted in an encrypted electronic environment. As of May 5, 2023, the investigation was taken over by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office and the Istanbul Police Department's Financial Crimes Branch; the role of the Provincial Health Directorate was limited to providing information support when necessary.

ALLEGATIONS OF INFORMATION LEAKING TO THE GANG

In September 2023, while the prosecutor's office and police continued their technical surveillance, the Provincial Health Directorate accelerated inspections. However, the desired results could not be obtained from these inspections. Later, allegations would emerge that information was being leaked to the gang by the teams conducting the inspections.

SECRET OPERATIONS AND RAIDS WERE ORGANIZED

On November 24, 2023, the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office wrote a letter marked "Secret" to the Ministry of Health within the framework of an investigation they were conducting on the same subject. On December 5, the Ministry's Board of Inspectors assigned inspectors following the letter from the Büyükçekmece prosecutor's office. On December 7, the inspectors requested information from the Büyükçekmece prosecutor's office, but the prosecutor's office shared only the allegations, not the information in its possession, citing "confidentiality."

PRELIMINARY REPORT FROM INSPECTORS

On February 9, 2024, the inspectors submitted their preliminary report; there was "strong suspicion," and the suspicions were concentrated particularly on the 112 emergency call center. On April 22, the prosecutor's office again rejected the health inspectors' request for information due to a "confidentiality order." The prosecutor's office and police were preparing for an operation.

On April 26-27, the police raided the hospitals that had been reported, and 47 people were detained; 22 of them were arrested. Among those arrested were Dr. Fırat Sarı and Dr. İlker Gönen, who were later alleged to be the leaders of the gang, as well as 112 ambulance driver Gıyasettin Mert Özdemir.

News Source: 12punto