2 doctors released in 'Newborn gang' case

In the case where 62 defendants, 10 of whom were detained, were tried for allegedly transferring baby emergency patients to the neonatal units of private hospitals with which they had previously agreed, causing their deaths and making unfair profits, 2 detained doctors were released.

At the hearing held in the conference hall of the Bakırköy 22nd High Criminal Court, the statements of the defendants and their lawyers were completed.

In his defense, detained defendant Fırat Sarı claimed that nothing he had said so far was denied, on the contrary, it was confirmed.

Claiming that there are no infant deaths and that doctors do not have such a purpose, Sarı defended that they said that there is a good health system in Türkiye in all their statements.

Sarı claimed that, except for Çorlu Reyap Hospital, all of the hospitals where babies died had neonatal specialists and that these specialists were not even heard as witnesses.

Defendant Sarı, who claimed that there was no fault in any public hospital within the scope of this investigation, stated that he wanted an autopsy to be performed on the babies.

Defendant Fırat Sarı's lawyer, Aydın Mantar, stated in his statement that his client had been in a cell for a very long time and that the defendants were people who loved their babies and their jobs.

Lawyers of some detained defendants also stated that their clients were innocent and requested their release.

The court adjourned the hearing for 2 hours to announce its interim decision.

Announcing its interim decision after the break, the court decided to release doctors Rıza Keykubad and Zeki Ötünç. The committee ruled that the other detained defendants should continue in this situation.

The court panel decided that the next sessions of the hearing would be held in the hall on the Marmara Closed Penal Institution campus and postponed the hearing to January 26.