The assets of the leader of the newborn gang, Fırat Sarı, have been seized.

In Istanbul, the trial of 47 defendants, who are accused of transferring emergency infant patients to private hospitals' neonatal units with which they had previously agreed, leading to their deaths and unjust profits, continues on its 10th day.

The hearing, held in the courthouse's conference hall by the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court, was attended by 22 detained defendants, including Fırat Sarı, who is alleged to be the leader of an organized crime group, as well as some defendants who are not in custody and the lawyers of the parties involved.

ASSET FREEZING MEASURES IMPOSED

A significant development occurred during the hearing, which began on November 18 and involved the defense of 40 defendants, 22 of whom are in custody. A court decision was made to freeze the assets of Fırat Sarı, who is being tried in custody in the Newborn Gang case, and individuals connected to Medisense.

FROM THE INDICTMENT

The 1399-page indictment prepared by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office states 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 aim of the criminal organization is to eliminate the 112 transfer system of the neonatal intensive care units they took over and to ensure their occupancy, manipulating the patients' stages to receive maximum payments from the Social Security Institution (SGK).

The indictment states that the condition of infant patients was portrayed as more severe than it actually was, and their hospital stays were prolonged unnecessarily, resulting in high fees being collected from SGK and excess payments being taken from some patients' relatives. Instead of transferring the patients to hospitals that would provide appropriate healthcare services, they were admitted to hospitals chosen by the defendants that appeared profitable for the organization, with most of the profits shared among the defendant members of the organization, who are health workers. The indictment emphasizes that the main goal was not to improve the health status of the infants but to achieve the maximum financial gain.

REQUESTS FOR PUNISHMENT

The indictment requests a total of 177 years and 6 months to 582 years and 9 months of imprisonment for defendants Fırat Sarı and İlker Gönen for "manslaughter by negligence" in the deaths of 10 infants, "qualified fraud," and "establishing an organization for the purpose of committing a crime," as well as 11 counts of "forgery in official documents."

Defendant Gıyasettin Mert Özdemir is also sought to be sentenced to imprisonment ranging from 180 years to 589 years and 9 months for "manslaughter by negligence," "unlawful acquisition of 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 calls for security measures specific to legal entities for the hospitals and companies responsible for obtaining financial benefits through "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 infants 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 newborn gang, with death in his office, have also been arrested.