10.07.2026 13:11
The 9th hearing of the 62-defendant Newborn Gang case, accused of causing infant deaths by referring patients to hospitals they had agreements with, began in Bakırköy. During the hearing, reports prepared by the 3rd Supreme Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute regarding the deaths of 10 infants were submitted to the court. The report assessed that infants 'Serdarova', 'Karakoç', and 'Helvacı' could have survived with proper diagnosis and treatment, while it stated that this was not definitive for 7 infants.
The 9th hearing of the trial, known as the 'Newborn Gang' case, has begun, where 62 defendants (10 of whom are detained) are being tried for allegedly referring baby patients to newborn units of pre-arranged private hospitals, causing their deaths, and obtaining unlawful gains.
SOME DEFENDANTS PARTICIPATED VIA SEGBIS
At the hearing, which started at 11:00 AM in the conference hall of the courthouse at Bakırköy 22nd Heavy Penal Court, the detained doctor Fırat Sarı, alleged to be the leader of the organized crime syndicate, some non-detained defendants, and party lawyers were present. Some detained and non-detained defendants attended the hearing via the Audio and Visual Information System (SEGBIS). The hearing continues with the statements of the party lawyers.
REPORTS SUBMITTED TO THE COURT
In the hearing of the 'Newborn Gang' case, reports prepared by the 3rd Superior Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute regarding the deaths of 10 babies were submitted to the court. The report assessed that babies 'Serdarova', 'Karakoç', and 'Helvacı' could have survived with proper diagnosis and treatment, while it was stated that this was not certain for 7 babies.
The trial of 62 defendants, accused in Istanbul of referring emergency baby patients to newborn units of pre-arranged private hospitals, causing their deaths, and obtaining unlawful gains, continued at Bakırköy 22nd Heavy Penal Court. Reports previously prepared by the Ministry of Health Inspection Board and the Forensic Medicine Institute regarding the baby deaths had been included in the case file. However, considering the differences in evaluation between the two reports, the court panel requested at previous sessions that the Superior Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute prepare separate opinions for each baby. Reports prepared by the 3rd Superior Board of the Forensic Medicine Institute (ATK) regarding the deaths of 10 babies, bearing the signatures of 37 physicians, were submitted to the court. The total 1,284-page report included the cause of death for each baby and the procedures performed during the babies' treatment processes.
In the reports, for babies Roua Kadan, Ayaz Karaduman, Melek Süleymanoğlu, Michelle Nwando Opara, Halime Alkari, Kerem Muhammet Tokluoğlu, and the unnamed baby of the Kaya family, it was stated that while there was a causal link between the negligent acts and the deaths, it was not certain that the babies would have been saved even with timely proper diagnosis and treatment.
3 BABIES COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED
The cause of death of baby Havvanur Karakoç was determined as severe malnutrition, respiratory failure due to severe lung damage, brain damage, and sepsis (the body's extreme and life-threatening response to infection). The report established a causal link between inappropriate care, monitoring, treatment, and nutrition and the death. It was determined that there was a high probability of saving the baby with timely proper treatment and adequate nutrition. The cause of death of baby Öykü Helvacı was determined as severe prematurity and respiratory failure. Deficiencies in surfactant and intravenous nutrition therapy, and resuscitation performed without a specialist physician were cited in the report as violations of medical rules. The board assessed that there was a possibility of saving the baby with appropriate treatment.
The report stated that for baby Serdarova, there was a causal link between the death and diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment processes not conducted in accordance with medical rules, as well as resuscitation, and that there was a very high probability of survival for the baby, who was found to have a heart anomaly after birth, if the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment process had been conducted in accordance with medical rules.