Scandalous confession from Newborn Gang member Renas Kılıç, responsible for transferring babies: 'My goal was to be the Mayor of Esenyurt'

The trial of 47 defendants, 22 of whom are in custody, including leaders and members of the 'Newborn Gang'—who generated illicit profits by transferring babies to hospitals they had agreements with and caused their deaths through negligent behavior—continues for its fourth day in Istanbul. During the hearing held by the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court in the courthouse conference hall, Renas Kılıç, who transferred babies to hospitals associated with the gang, presented his defense.

'I WANTED TO REACH A POLITICAL POSITION'

Stating that he began his duties in 2017, Kılıç said, "I started working to protect Reyap. Later, I started working at the Esenyurt Municipality. I also took on a role at the hospital. I was administering injections to the babies. I wanted to reach a political position and status. I had an affection for that hospital. I was doing my job there as required by my duties."

DENIED THE ALLEGATIONS

The presiding judge asked the defendant, "There are allegations that you provided financial gain to facilitate baby transfers. What do you say to this?" The defendant replied, "112 is not such a simple system; I do not accept this."

'I DID NOT RECEIVE MONEY FROM Fırat Sarı'

Stating that he had no communication with Fırat Sarı other than regarding the condition of patients, Renas Kılıç said, "I did not receive money from Fırat Sarı; I gave money to Fırat Sarı. In the police report, there was insistence that I received money from Fırat Sarı. If I had received money, I would not be in this state. I absolutely do not accept this; it is impossible. When there was a patient request for Fırat Sarı, I told him that he should not tell me about it."

'BABIES ARE FIRST PLACED IN INCUBATORS'

Continuing his defense, Kılıç stated, "There were foreign patients. When a blue code was issued, that patient would definitely stay in the incubator first, and then the transfer would be made. My duty was, when patients came to district chairs or municipalities, to reach an agreement with a pharmacy close to wherever the patient was coming from at that moment, and we would direct the patients to that pharmacy."

The presiding judge asked the defendant about the conversation between Fehmi Alperen and the defendant, where he said, "If you say don't send, I won't send." The defendant replied, "We were not talking about a patient here. We were talking about the dismissal of certain people. My wife works at the 112 service in Hasdal; she is a civil servant."

MY GOAL WAS TO BECOME THE MAYOR OF ESENYURT

Continuing his defense, Renas Kılıç said, "I have been in custody for seven months; my goal is not to kill anyone, I work within the municipality. My goal was not to get involved in these affairs and make money, but to become the Mayor of Esenyurt Municipality. I never believe that I will be found guilty. 

These children passed away, I used to go to the homes of these children and perform their treatments myself, how could I harm them? I never took any instructions from Fırat Sarı, I was not receiving money per baby, I was receiving a performance-based payment," he said.

The public prosecutor asked the defendant about the conversation regarding drug procurement between him and Fehmi Alperen. The defendant said, "There were other drugs as well, we were getting drugs from different hospitals. 

I am not a hospital owner, how could I receive money from the Social Security Institution (SGK)? I do not accept the accusations of public damage leveled against me," he said.