Newborn gang that deeply shook Turkey was reported to CIMER: Nothing has been done since March

Allegations that a criminal organization known as the 'newborn gang' in Istanbul caused infant deaths by collaborating with 112 Emergency Call Center employees have deeply shaken Turkey.

According to a report by Habertürk correspondent Mustafa Şekeroğlu, the indictment, which includes 47 suspects, lists 19 hospitals and healthcare companies as civilly liable. Prosecutors are seeking prison sentences of up to 589 years for suspect Gıyasettin Mert Özdemir, and up to 582 years for Fırat Sarı and İlker Gönen. So, how was this gang that shook Turkey dismantled, and when was the first report made? 

The first report was made on March 27, 2023

The investigation that led to the dismantling of the newborn gang began with a report made to CİMER on March 27, 2023. The anonymous tip included the following allegations:

"Fırat Sarı, a former PKK convict and current IYI Party member who is a neonatal intensive care doctor at Reyap Hospital, and İlker Gönen are defrauding the Social Security Institution (SGK). Reyap Hospital, Beylikdüzü Medilife Hospital, Bağcılar Şafak Hospital, Doğa Hospital, Medicine Bağcılar Hospital (formerly Ethica Hospital), Duygu Hospital, and many others have been leasing their neonatal intensive care units and failing to keep doctors on duty at night."

Many babies died in inhumane conditions

And due to inhumane and medically inappropriate conditions, as well as many other reasons, many babies died in an inhumane manner. These individuals have been earning millions of TL for years by showing first-level patients as third-level in epicrisis reports and by bribing the 112 command and control center to 'purchase' babies.

They caused the deaths of hundreds of babies

And they caused the deaths of hundreds of babies. These sold babies lost their lives under poor conditions in the intensive care units of Fırat Sarı and İlker Gönen. To stop these infant deaths, these blood-sucking traitors must be stopped. If the hospitals I mentioned are suddenly raided and inspected, you will understand exactly what I mean. These babies who died could have been your babies too. I have no doubt that my noble state will do what is necessary."

Financial Crimes Bureau launched an investigation under the prosecutor's instruction

CİMER forwarded this report to the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate. The Provincial Health Directorate conducted its own internal study and sent it to the Istanbul Financial Crimes Bureau for the necessary investigations to be carried out regarding this report.

Upon the prosecutor's instruction, police teams began investigating these allegations. Regarding this report, the police took the statement of Doctor Malik Türkay Esin, an official from the unit responsible for the inspection of private hospitals at the Istanbul Provincial Health Directorate, in the capacity of a person with knowledge.

Shocking allegations

Doctor Esin's statement was taken at the police station on May 22, 2023. Esin provided shocking information regarding these allegations.

Esin stated the following in his testimony:

"During the hospital inspections we conducted in January 2023, I observed that the registers that needed to be filled out in the newborn intensive care units of some private hospitals were not being filled out. Furthermore, we saw that the health status of the babies shown in the files did not match their actual health status; for example, a baby recorded as intubated was actually quite healthy and able to breathe on their own."

We asked about the baby's condition

When we asked the hospital authorities about the condition, we received answers like 'it just improved.' As far as I remember, these hospitals included the Private Santa Plus Hospital in Zeytinburnu and the Private Baypark Hospital in Bayrampaşa. There were also other hospitals in this situation. However, while I cannot recall their names right now, I can submit the documents to you later. I previously served as the Chief Physician of the 112 Emergency Health Services."

112 employees allegedly directed patients to the same hospitals in exchange for money

While working there, we heard rumors that 112 employees were constantly directing patients to the same hospitals in exchange for money. Based on the situations we observed in private hospitals and the rumors we heard, we tightened inspections. During our inspections, we determined that the treatment files for babies in intensive care were not filled out daily and that some treatment methods were inconsistent with the babies' conditions."

‘We will increase the revenue of the units’

In their statement, Esin also told the police striking details they had heard about Fırat Sarı and İlker Gönen.

Esin described what they heard about the two suspects as follows:

“We can present some of our reports on this matter if requested. Furthermore, during our inspections, we heard that a doctor named Fırat Sarı, who works at the Private Reyap Hospital, and İlker Gönen, a neonatologist said to be working at the Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, would visit private hospital administrations together and say, 'We can increase the revenue of your newborn unit. This way, you can collect higher fees from the Social Security Institution (SGK).' We heard that they took over newborn intensive care units and ensured they remained constantly full to collect fees from the SGK at the maximum limit.”

We also learned that they placed healthcare personnel in the intensive care units of the private hospitals they had agreements with for liaison purposes, and that these individuals would call their contacts at 112 as soon as a bed became available to ensure new patients were brought to the intensive care unit, and in return, they made certain payments to these 112 employees under the name of monthly earnings.

However, we heard rumors that some 112 transfer unit employees were conducting these calls, which should have been made through official channels, using their personal phones to direct patients to hospitals of their choosing for personal gain, and that they were trying to hide their misconduct. Following these rumors, an anonymous tip with the same nature as these reports was received by the Provincial Health Directorate via the Presidential Communication Center (CİMER) on 27.03.2023, under the specified application number. We felt the need to report this situation to the police.

Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation

Following these serious allegations, the Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation. The work carried out revealed allegations that shook Turkey. In the prepared indictment, the Chief Public Prosecutor's Office addressed how this project began and explained the resulting outcome as follows:

“In the project-based investigation conducted regarding the allegations, measures stipulated in Articles 135 and 140 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CMK) were initiated against the suspects Dr. Fırat Sarı and Dr. İlker Gönen, who were alleged to have acted in collusion with 112 Emergency Call Center employees to use private hospital neonatal intensive care units for financial gain rather than treatment. As a result of the work carried out, and following inspections by Provincial Health Directorate officials, it was determined that 41 suspects were involved in the crimes based on 2,400 conversations evaluated as containing criminal content, and that 197 criminal acts had occurred.”

What happened?

The Büyükçekmece Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched an investigation into allegations that 12 babies died due to negligence after being admitted to intensive care units in private hospitals when it was not medically necessary, and the prosecutor conducting the investigation, Y.E., was threatened in his office. While the revelation of the incident caused public outrage, an indictment was prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office against 47 suspects, 22 of whom are under arrest.

What is in the indictment?

In the indictment, prison sentences ranging from a total of 177 years and 6 months to 589 years and 9 months were requested for the suspects on charges of "intentional killing by omission," "qualified fraud," "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing crimes," and "forgery of official documents."

The indictment lists the 10 deceased infants as "victims," 5 individuals as "complainants," the Social Security Institution (SGK) Istanbul Provincial Directorate as the "party harmed by the crime," 19 hospitals and healthcare companies as "civilly liable," and 47 individuals as "suspects."