24.12.2025 21:50
The 7th hearing of the trial of the Newborn Gang's managers and members, who provided unfair profits by transferring babies to hospitals they had agreements with and caused their deaths through negligent behavior, continued. During the hearing, detained defendant Fırat Sarı stated, "Everyone thinks we are potential baby killers."
Recently, an indictment was prepared regarding the second wave of operations against the Newborn Gang, which provided unfair profits by transferring babies to hospitals they had agreements with and caused their deaths through negligent behavior. The number of defendants has risen to 61 with the indictment prepared against individuals identified as acting together with the alleged gang leader, Fırat Sarı, which was combined with the main case file.
THEY APPEARED BEFORE THE JUDGE
The 7th hearing continued on the 2nd day at the conference hall of the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court. Six detained defendants and some non-detained defendants, along with their lawyers, were present at the hearing. Some detained and non-detained defendants connected to the hearing via the Audio and Video Information System (SEGBİS). After roll call, the defendants made their defenses.
In his defense, detained defendant Fırat Sarı, whose name was mentioned as the gang leader in the indictment, stated, "We have been detained for 20 months, and the investigation has been ongoing for 3 years. People who have dedicated their lives to children have become baby killers here. I have been inside for 20 months; will you keep me here forever? Do you have any concrete evidence?"
"EVERYONE THINKS WE ARE POTENTIAL BABY KILLERS"
Continuing his defense, Sarı said, "This case has been portrayed very differently in the media; the media has treated this case as if we committed murder horrifically, and here we are. Halime baby was born with brain death. What have I done to the patient? I am a monster, I am a terrible doctor, right? I sent Halime baby for a tomography. I struggled to resuscitate for 20 minutes. I was accused of not having an MRI done on the baby. The baby had brain death; we are trying to resuscitate, what MRI should we take? The patient's veins were gone. They did not question this. Why did 112 transfer this baby to Çorlu Reyap Hospital? Everyone thinks we are potential baby killers. Emrullah Erdinç's detention for drugs is not a coincidence. Names like Seher Cuhadar and Erol Vural have now emerged. I do not know these people; I have never seen them in my life. I am requesting house arrest in this hearing; I am asking for this for the first time," he said.
"WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVENTS AFTER BIRTH"
Detained defendant Zeki Ötünç, who made a defense at the hearing, stated, "I did everything necessary for the baby; there is no negligence. The mothers can be at ease. I will prove this in court. I have been a doctor since 1986. I have been taking care of newborn intensive care for 18 years. I am being told that I committed murder. I think this is due to the news that has come out in the press. When I entered prison, I was very angry; when other inmates asked why I was there, I hit the walls and said, 'I killed a baby.' You cannot imagine how bad this situation is. Babies do not come to us immediately after birth. Doctors hand them over to us after the delivery process. Therefore, we do not know if there was negligence during the birth or if something else happened. We are responsible for events that occur after birth. How do we know that the problems of these babies did not occur during birth? I am a newborn doctor, and I am accused of killing a baby, and it is said that I did this for money. This is a terrible thing; I have no intention of killing anyone," he said.
"I AM VERY CURIOUS WHO INTERVENED WITH THESE CHILDREN"
Detained defendant Hakan Doğukan Taşçı, who made a defense, said, "There is only one place where my name is mentioned regarding the Opara baby, and that is sharing the baby's death information with the family. I explain this as follows; there is no doctor to share the baby's death information with the family. I am the responsible nurse; I cannot report the death of a baby who passed away at night outside of my working hours. No matter what I do, I feel like I will never escape from this case. Everyone says I did not intervene with the children; I am very curious who intervened with these children. Şeyhmus Çelik said he did not see the baby who stayed for 44 days; a 60-year-old man said this," he stated.
POSTPONED
The prosecutor, whose opinion was sought at the hearing, requested the continuation of the detention of the detained defendants and the resolution of missing issues. The court panel postponed the hearing to tomorrow at 10:00 AM to continue taking the defendants' defenses.