A Turkish prosecutor has demanded the arrest of 10 defendants in an ongoing trial involving 47 suspects accused of orchestrating a social security fraud scheme that caused the death of at least 10 newborns in private hospitals.
The trial over one of Turkey’s most serious healthcare scandals continued this week in İstanbul, with the prosecutor requesting the continued detention of 22 jailed suspects and calling for the arrest of 10 who are currently free. The suspects face charges of fraud, negligent homicide and forgery.
The case, often referred to by Turkish media as the “newborn deaths gang,” centers on allegations that healthy infants were unnecessarily admitted to neonatal intensive care units at private hospitals as part of a scheme to exploit Turkey’s social security system.
According to the 1,399-page indictment, the accused allegedly manipulated 112 emergency call systems to bypass standard hospital protocols, redirecting newborns to hospitals involved in the scheme. The facilities claimed inflated payments from the Social Security Institution (SGK) while extorting additional fees from parents under the pretext of providing essential care.
Prosecutors argue that the primary motive of the network, which included hospital administrators, doctors, ambulance operators and emergency call staff, was to maximize financial gain rather than prioritize the health of the infants. The indictment states that hospital staff falsely classified babies as critically ill, extending their hospital stays unnecessarily. Some newborns who required genuine care were reportedly denied proper treatment, resulting in avoidable fatalities.
The prosecutor has also requested further investigation into the financial transactions of the suspects at the time of the alleged crimes. Additionally, an analysis of each infant’s medical records is to be conducted by the Council of Forensic Medicine to determine negligence and cause of death. Seven nurses, a doctor and a member of the management board at İstanbul’s Bağcılar Şafak Hospital are to be called as witnesses.
Court proceedings began at İstanbul’s Bakırköy Courthouse in a conference room, as the standard courtroom was deemed inadequate for the high-profile case. Family members of the victims, along with attorneys and media representatives, attended the hearing. Statements from plaintiffs began with Mustafa Mevlüt Tokluoğlu, whose son, Kerem Muhammet, died under suspicious circumstances.
The scandal has drawn nationwide attention, prompting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to pledge harsh punishment for those involved. Authorities have already shut down nine private hospitals, including one managed by a former health minister. Investigations are ongoing into several other health centers suspected of similar misconduct.
Victims’ families have recounted harrowing experiences of losing their newborns. One mother, Nazlı Ahi, told local media how her son, born healthy, was declared dead days after being admitted to intensive care. “If they needed money, I would have given them everything to have my child back,” she said, calling the actions of the accused “barbaric.”
The defendants face sentences ranging from 177 years to over 500 years on charges including “deliberately negligent homicide” and “fraud.”