Baby killing gang member commits suicide in prison in Türkiye

Ilker Gonen, the imprisoned second-in-command of the “newborn gang,” has reportedly committed suicide by cutting his wrist with a tea cup at Antalya High Security Closed Penal Execution Institution.

Gonen, who was held in solitary confinement in the closed prison in the central Dosemealti district of Antalya, ended his life by leaving a suicide note in the morning.

Meanwhile, Antalya Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office launched an investigation into the incident.

The case, known as the “newborn gang” in local media, involves charges of deliberate negligence, fraud, and falsifying official documents, leading to the deaths of at least 10 infants.

In a high-profile legal case that has garnered nationwide attention, 47 defendants, including 22 in custody, have been on trial in Türkiye since November 2024. They face allegations of orchestrating a criminal network that exploited newborns in intensive care units.

A 1,399-page indictment from the Bakirkoy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has brought 47 suspects, including 22 in custody, to trial. The case alleges a complex corruption network involving medical staff, private hospitals, and emergency services, with claims of manipulated patient records, fraud, and the mistreatment of newborns for financial gain.

Under agreements between Türkiye’s Ministry of Health and SGK, NICU services for newborns are compensated at a daily rate of ₺8,000 ($231) to reduce post-birth mortality. However, the “newborn gang” allegedly exploited this system by orchestrating unnecessary NICU admissions and falsifying medical records to inflate payments.

The scheme reportedly involved 19 private hospitals and numerous 112 emergency personnel.

The indictment accuses key figures, including Dr. Firat Sari and Dr. Ilker Gonen, of manipulating Türkiye’s healthcare systems for financial gain. Prosecutors say the network exploited SGK reimbursements by falsely inflating the severity of newborns’ medical conditions and prolonging hospital stays unnecessarily. Ambulances were reportedly diverted to pre-selected private hospitals, ignoring better-equipped facilities, which led to avoidable deaths.

The criminal operation is also accused of falsifying treatment records, such as showing infants as intubated when they were not, to claim higher reimbursements. Further allegations include withholding deceased infants’ bodies from families until outstanding bills were paid.