In the "Newborn Gang" case, for the first time, the families of the deceased babies are being heard.

In Istanbul, the trial of 47 defendants, 22 of whom are in custody, continues on charges of unfairly profiting by transferring babies to the neonatal units of contracted private hospitals and causing their deaths through negligent behavior. On the 12th day of the hearing, all defendants completed their defenses. In today's hearing, the families of 5 deceased babies mentioned in the indictment are being heard.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

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 is 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 is to eliminate the 112 transfer system of the neonatal intensive care units they have taken over and to ensure their occupancy, manipulating the patients' levels to receive maximum payments from the Social Security Institution (SGK).

It is stated in the indictment that the condition of the sick babies was presented as 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.

Instead of transferring sick babies to hospitals that would provide appropriate healthcare services, the indictment reports that 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 healthcare workers.

The indictment emphasizes that the main goal was not to improve the health status of the babies but to obtain the maximum financial gain.

REQUESTS FOR PUNISHMENT

In the indictment, it is requested that defendants Fırat Sarı and İlker Gönen be sentenced to a total of 177 years and 6 months to 582 years and 9 months in prison for "causing death by negligence" in the deaths of 10 babies, "qualified fraud," and "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," with 10 counts, and 11 counts of "forgery in official documents."

Defendant Gıyasettin Mert Özdemir is also requested to be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 180 years to 589 years and 9 months for "causing death by negligence," "unlawfully obtaining personal data," "fraud to the detriment of public institutions and organizations," "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," and "forgery in official documents." Similar prison sentences are also anticipated for 44 defendants, 8 of whom are women.

The indictment requests that security measures specific to legal entities be applied to the responsible hospitals and companies that obtained material benefits through the crime of "fraud," including their closure and confiscation of their assets.

As part of the investigation, the licenses of 9 hospitals in Istanbul and 1 hospital in Tekirdağ Çorlu have been revoked, and the babies and patients receiving treatment in these hospitals were transferred to public hospitals by ambulances.

Additionally, those who threatened the prosecutor Y.E., who is conducting the investigation into the neonatal gang, with death in his office have also been arrested.