25.04.2025 17:21
In the fourth hearing of the Newborn Gang case, the detained defendant Senanur Ünlü, who stated that she had just given birth, requested her acquittal. Ünlü said, "I haven't even stopped producing milk. How can I make another mother suffer this pain? I would even accept house arrest as long as my child is with me." Additionally, relatives of the defendants who argued during the hearing were removed from the courtroom.
The case known to the public as the "Newborn Gang" is being heard in the fourth hearing, where 58 defendants, 29 of whom are in custody, are accused of transferring baby patients to private hospitals they had previously agreed upon, leading to their deaths and unjust profits. The hearing continues with the testimonies of witnesses. The session at the 22nd Heavy Criminal Court in Bakırköy started around 10:30 with the identification of the defendants.
"I AM EVEN WILLING TO BE UNDER HOUSE ARREST"
During the hearing, detained defendant Senanur Ünlü stated, "I just gave birth. I have been in custody for 5 months. They call me a member of an organization, but I learned what the organization is here. They said they are laundering money, but my house is even rented. I have a 1.5-year-old child. How could I do such a thing? My milk hasn't even dried up. How could I inflict this pain on another mother? I want my acquittal. I am even willing to be under house arrest as long as my child is with me."
CONTINUATION OF CUSTODY REQUESTED
During the hearing, the representatives of the Ministry of Family and Social Services and the Social Security Institution stated that the witnesses' statements against the institution were not accepted by the court. The prosecutor requested the continuation of the custody of the detained defendants.
"I GAVE MEDICATION FOR THE OPARA BABY TO LIVE"
A 45-minute break was given in the hearing held at the Bakırköy 22nd Heavy Criminal Court at 12:35. The hearing resumed at 14:00.
Hakan Doğukan Taşçı stated, "I am said to be responsible for 11 hospitals, but I have no contact with these 11 hospitals at all. How did I provide this coordination then? I was the responsible doctor at the first hospital, but there, another person's name is mentioned as the responsible doctor. Let me clarify about the Opara baby. The prosecutor asked me, 'How can you not realize the baby is dead?' They didn't ask me anything else, but the expert report was written incorrectly. I gave medication for the Opara baby to live; if I hadn't, I would have been arrested for not giving it."
"THE ISSUE IS THAT THEY DID NOT REALIZE THE PATIENT DIED"
Witness Yaren Sena stated regarding the Opara baby, "They said the baby is alive, but I do not accept it. The issue is that they did not realize the patient died. Hours had passed. I asked him, 'How did you not realize he was dead?' He said to me, 'I told you.' I learned for the first time yesterday when he said he did heart massage on the baby. If he had told me, I would have understood that his heart had stopped and would have said, 'Do heart massage.' I have been in custody for a year; I told everything I know. Do I have a crime? Yes, I accepted that. I sold the medicines that would go to waste; I regret this, but I have no other crime. I have no connection with Fırat Sarı."
"THEY WERE TRYING TO KILL US IN PRISON"
Detained defendant Hüseyin Günerhan stated, "I had left the hospital months before the incident. I was not working at the hospital when Kaya baby died. People hate us. They were trying to kill us in prison. We became the worst killers. Please forgive me; maybe we won't see each other again. I don't want to torture myself anymore; I am very tired. I am waiting for justice."
"I WAS ARRESTED FOR RECEIVING A SALARY FROM FIRAT SARI"
Detained defendant Mehmet Gürül stated in his defense, "I was arrested for receiving a salary from Fırat Sarı. I have no crime; I was receiving from 100 thousand hospitals and 25 thousand from Fırat Sarı. The hospital management decided this. I have no crime. They call me a member of an organization, but I do not accept this. The hospital management reported me to Fırat Sarı."
"I HAVE NEVER BEEN A MEMBER OF ANY ORGANIZATION, I HAVE NOT GAINED ANY BENEFIT"
Detained defendant Murat Mantuş stated in his defense, "First of all, I was raised with state discipline. As soon as I received a notification regarding me, I immediately came back to the country from abroad. I have no suspicion of fleeing. Additionally, although I have been arrested for fraud, I am also under investigation for being a member of an organization and causing death by negligence. My life has been spent fighting against organizations. I have never been a member of any organization, and I have not gained any benefit."
"THEY ARE TRYING TO PIN KAYA BABY'S DEATH ON ME"
Detained defendant Rıza Keykubat stated in his defense, "The witness nurses made false statements. They want to pin Kaya baby's death on me. They are trying to mislead the court. All orders are mentioned in the indictment under Şeyhmus Çelik's name. However, the witnesses gave my name. I have been in custody for 9 months due to false statements. I request my acquittal."
DISPUTE AMONG DEFENDANTS' RELATIVES
Detained defendant Tuğçe Toptemel stated, "I do not accept Hakan Doğukan Taşçı's statements. The experiences of the Opara baby are already recorded in the tapes. I am the only one arrested for negligence among the nurses, but I do not know what negligence this is." After Toptemel's words, a spectator alleged to be a relative of Doğukan Taşçı said, 'You know.' Following this, a verbal argument occurred between Toptemel's mother and Taşçı's relative. After the argument, the relatives of the defendants were removed from the courtroom.