30.04.2025 15:30
In the case of the Newborn Gang, whose managers and members are being tried for unlawfully profiting by transferring babies to hospitals with which they had agreements and causing their deaths through negligent behavior, the court panel announced its interim decision. The court ruled for the release of 10 defendants who are currently in custody and lifted the judicial control measures for 5 defendants, and then adjourned the hearing.
The trial of 58 defendants, 29 of whom are detained, accused of transferring emergency infant patients to private hospitals' neonatal units they had previously agreed upon, leading to deaths and unjust profits, was held today. The hearing, which took place in the conference hall of the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court, started around 11:00 AM. During the hearing, the lawyers of all detained and non-detained defendants completed their defenses today.
INTERIM DECISION ANNOUNCED
The court panel ruled to separate the case of Mustafa Kemal Zengin, who is being tried for 'aiding an organization established for the purpose of committing a crime.' On the other hand, a criminal complaint was filed against Şenay Çalıkoğlu, who was heard as a witness. While the continuation of the arrest warrants for Alev Aksu and Serenay Şenkalay was decided, the request for the return of some defendants' mobile phones was rejected. The judicial control measures for non-detained defendants Gözde Kul Yadigar, İbrahim Oktay, Hilal Vatansever, Meryem Küçükoğlu, and Tuğba Özkaynak were lifted.
10 DEFENDANTS RELEASED
The court decided to release the detained defendants, including Medical Secretary Aslı Alemdağ, Medical Secretary Gözde Polat, Doctor Bener Mansuroğlu, Nurse Fehmi Alperen, Health Affairs Director of Esenyurt Municipality Renas Kılıç, Health officer Remzi Karaca, Medical Secretary Müberra Palabıyık, Nurse Deniz Korkmaz, administrative director of TRG Hospitalist Hospital Murat Mantuş, and Medical Secretary Senanur Ünlü. Judicial control measures in the form of 'prohibition of leaving the country' and 'signing' were applied to the released defendants. While the detention status of the remaining 19 detained defendants was decided to continue, the hearing was postponed to June 30 at 10:00 AM.
"OUR FOREHEAD IS CLEAN, OUR HEAD IS HELD HIGH"
Gözde Polat's lawyer Elif Asena Macit stated after the release decision, "Today is a day when Turkish justice is manifested. Gözde Polat is innocent, which is the final result of our defenses. Our forehead is clean, our head is held high, our conscience is at ease. During this process, both my client and a sister were important to me. I will go to pick her up from Silivri prison this evening. We are very happy," she said.
WHAT HAPPENED?
In the 1399-page indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, it is stated that the criminal organization led by defendant doctor Fırat Sarı was managed by defendant doctor İlker Gönen and 112 Emergency Call Center ambulance driver Gıyasettin Mert Özdemir.
The indictment notes that the main purpose of the criminal organization was to eliminate the 112 transfer system of the neonatal intensive care units they took over, ensure their occupancy, manipulate the patients' stages, and receive maximum payments from the Social Security Institution (SGK).
The indictment states that the condition of infant patients was shown to be more severe than it actually was, and their hospital stays were prolonged unnecessarily, resulting in high fees being collected from SGK and excessive amounts being charged to some patients' relatives.
It is reported in the indictment that instead of transferring infant patients to hospitals that would provide appropriate health services, they were admitted to hospitals chosen by the suspects, which appeared profitable for the organization, and that most of the profits were shared with the defendant members of the organization, who are health workers.
The indictment emphasizes that the main goal was to achieve the maximum financial gain rather than improving the health status of the infants.