Istanbul newborn gang trial postponed to Oct. 12

A court in Istanbul continues hearing the case against an alleged criminal network that diverted newborns to private neonatal units for profit, resulting in multiple infant deaths. The group, dubbed the “Yenidoğan Çetesi,” includes doctor Fırat Sarı and several medical staff, with the number of accused rising to 61‑63. During the 11th hearing, judges ordered that the detention of ten detained defendants remain in force while releasing five from judicial control. The trial was adjourned to 12 October 2026 so that the Forensic Medicine Institute’s third‑level board can address gaps in its reports on ten babies, which allege negligence and potential survivability with proper care. Defense lawyers for several defendants, including Aydın Mantar for Sarı, contend that the evidence does not establish a causal link between the alleged “starvation” of a baby and the defendants’ actions and reject accusations of illicit earnings from the Social Security system. The court also heard challenges to the forensic reports, with some lawyers demanding additional autopsies. Security measures were heightened during the proceedings, and the case remains under active judicial review.