01.07.2025 20:13
Tense moments were experienced during the trial of 57 defendants accused of causing the deaths of emergency pediatric patients by transferring them to private hospitals in Istanbul. When lawyer Burak Mengü addressed the presiding judge as "the person at the podium," chaos ensued. The prosecutor reacted to the lawyer of gang leader Fırat Sarı, who was arguing with him, saying, "You can't warn me, don't put on a show."
The trial of 57 defendants, 19 of whom are detained, accused of transferring emergency infant patients to private hospitals' neonatal units with prior agreements, leading to their deaths and unjust profits, has been postponed to tomorrow for the continuation of the statements of the defendants' lawyers.
THE NEONATAL CASE CONTINUES TO BE HEARD
During the hearing held in the conference hall of the courthouse by the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court, statements from some defendants and their lawyers were taken. Some detained defendants stated that they had nothing to add to their defenses and requested their release. Defense attorney Burak Mengü stated that for an organization to exist, there must be a hierarchical structure.
"THE PERSON ON THE PODIUM"
Mengü, who stated that his client is a nurse, argued that a nurse in a hospital does not have the luxury of not following the doctor's orders, and that such an environment cannot be described as an organization. During his defense, attorney Mengü referred to the presiding judge as "the person on the podium."
The presiding judge, reacting to this situation, told Mengü, "You requested a recusal of the judge, which was denied. Yet you continue to make accusations against me. As a judge participating in the trial, I warn you about your continuous remarks targeting me and my position. Do not continue this."
"YOU CANNOT WARN ME, STOP SHOWING OFF"
Attorney Mengü responded, "I did not target anyone, I did not say anything to target you. Our request is for the Ministry of Health to deepen the investigation into this matter." During the hearing, detained defendant Fırat Sarı's lawyer Aydın Mantar also had a dispute with the prosecutor while making his defense. In response to Mantar's remarks directed at him, the prosecutor reacted by saying, "You cannot warn me, stop showing off."
Mantar stated, "There is no longer any concrete aspect regarding infant deaths in this case. We have been talking about the obstruction of our right to a fair trial since day one. We request the release of all defendants in the file." The court panel postponed the hearing to tomorrow at 10:00 AM for the continuation of the statements of the defendants' lawyers.