Second hearing of the Newborn Gang trial to be held tomorrow

The second hearing of the trial involving 47 defendants, who are accused of transferring infant emergency patients to the neonatal units of private hospitals they had pre-arranged agreements with, causing their deaths and generating illicit profits in Istanbul, will be held tomorrow.

The hearing, which will be conducted by the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court in the courthouse conference hall, is expected to continue with the taking of the defendants' defense statements.

THE INDICTMENT

In the 1,399-page indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it is stated that the criminal organization was led by defendant Dr. Fırat Sarı, and that its management and administration were carried out by defendant Dr. İlker Gönen and 112 Emergency Call Center ambulance driver Gıyasettin Mert Özdemir.

The indictment notes that the primary objective of the criminal organization was to bypass the 112 referral system for the neonatal intensive care units they operated, ensure high occupancy rates, manipulate patient severity levels, and receive maximum payments from the Social Security Institution (SGK).

The indictment explains that the defendants portrayed the condition of the infant patients as more severe than it actually was and ensured they remained hospitalized for longer than necessary, thereby collecting high fees from the SGK and charging some patients' families excessive amounts.

It is reported in the indictment that instead of transferring infant patients to hospitals where they would receive appropriate medical care, they were admitted to hospitals chosen by the suspects that were deemed profitable for the organization, and that the majority of the profits were shared among the defendants who were members of the organization and healthcare workers.

The indictment states that the primary goal was to maximize financial gain rather than improving the health status of the infants.

WHAT SENTENCES ARE BEING SOUGHT FOR WHOM?

In the indictment, defendants Fırat Sarı and İlker Gönen face a total of 177 years and 6 months to 582 years and 9 months in prison each, based on charges of 'homicide by omission' for the deaths of 10 babies, 'qualified fraud,' 'establishing an organization to commit crimes,' and 11 counts of 'forgery of official documents.'

Defendant Gıyasettin Mert Özdemir faces a prison sentence ranging from 180 years to 589 years and 9 months for charges including 'homicide by omission,' 'unlawful acquisition of personal data,' 'fraud against public institutions and organizations,' 'establishing an organization to commit crimes,' and 'forgery of official documents.' Additionally, prison sentences are sought for 44 other defendants, including 8 women, for similar offenses.

The indictment also requests that security measures specific to legal entities be applied to the hospitals and companies responsible for obtaining financial gain through 'fraud,' including the closure of these facilities and the seizure of their assets.

TRUSTEES APPOINTED TO HOSPITALS

As part of the investigation, the licenses of several hospitals in Istanbul and Tekirdağ's Çorlu district were revoked, and the babies and patients receiving treatment at these facilities were transferred to public hospitals via ambulance. Furthermore, by the decision of the Büyükçekmece 1st Criminal Court of Peace, the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (TMSF) was appointed as a trustee for 13 hospitals and 3 companies.

Within the scope of a new investigation launched into the 'Newborn Gang,' 11 suspects were arrested, 3 were placed under judicial control, and 1 was released by the prosecutor's office.

The investigation in question is ongoing.

4 DEFENDANTS PREVIOUSLY TRIED WITHOUT ARREST HAVE BEEN DETAINED

In accordance with the court panel's decision during the first hearing, defendants who were being tried without arrest—Mehmet Gürül, a doctor at TRG Hospitalist Hospital; Murat Mantuş, Administrative Manager at TRG Hospitalist Hospital; doctor Şeyhmus Çelik; and doctor Ali Dirik, the responsible manager of Esenler Güney Hospital—were arrested.

Furthermore, in the new indictment prepared by the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office Organized Crime and Terror Crimes Investigation Bureau regarding the 'Newborn Gang,' suspects Hilda Keykubad, Dursun Eryılmaz, Seher Çuhadar, and Şeyhmus Çelik face 10 to 15 years in prison each for the crime of 'intentional killing by omission'.

For suspect Mustafa Kemal Zengin, a prison sentence of 2 to 4 years is requested for the crime of 'aiding an organization established to commit crimes'.

In the indictment, varying prison sentences are requested for the other 13 suspects for different crimes.

LAWSUIT FILED OVER BASELESS POSTS REGARDING THE PROSECUTOR

Meanwhile, those who threatened the life of Büyükçekmece Public Prosecutor Y.E., who is conducting the investigation into the 'Newborn Gang,' in his office have been arrested, and investigations into them are ongoing.

A lawsuit was also filed against 5 individuals as part of an investigation launched following baseless social media posts claiming that the 'prosecutor who dismantled the Newborn Gang had been removed from the case'.

News Source: AA