Turkish court sentences 'fake doctor' who worked in hospital to 8 years and releases her

A Turkish court has released Ayşe Özkiraz after sentencing her to eight years in prison over the charges of “falsification of official documents,” “forgery of private documents” and “violation of law regulating unauthorized medical crimes.” Özkiraz, who has never taken a medical education, worked in a state hospital for one year as a “doctor.”

Tuesday March 28 2023 11:50 pm

Duvar English

A Tekirdağ court has released “fake doctor” Ayşe Özkiraz after sentencing her to eight years in prison over the charges of “falsification of official documents,” “forgery of private documents” and “opposition to the law regulating unauthorized medical crimes.”

Özkiraz, who had worked in a state hospital for one year in the northwestern province of Tekirdağ as a “doctor”, turned out to be a “fake doctor” who had only graduated from high school.

She was arrested in October after an investigation was launched against her.

During the police search, several fake university ID cards, fake doctor's ID cards, fake diplomas, IDs belonging to various hospitals, and surgical clothes were confiscated in Özkiraz’s home. It was revealed that Özkiraz told her family she graduated from Çapa Medical School.

In the final hearing of the case, Özkiraz said she regretted her actions and apologized, Demirören News Agency reported on March 28.

“I showed my intern card to only my ex-boyfriend. I haven't used it anywhere else. I did not make any financial gain. I accept that I attended a surgery. I did sewing once. I really regret it, I learned my lesson. I am in a very bad state psychologically. I started to take medication. My family and siblings have been mocked by the recent news. I am ashamed of this situation. At school, students were making fun of my sibling by saying 'are you a fake student as well? I request my release for my health and education,” Özkiraz said during her defense.

Her lawyer Oğuz Kağıtçı said “My client used the title of doctor, but she did not get any financial benefit. A person cannot come out and say that Ayşe Özkiraz treated me. The case received great coverage in the press. She is also punished for the news that came out throughout her life. She will always carry this mistake as a burden.”

The court sentenced Özkiraz to a total of eight years in prison, one year for “forgery of private documents,” three years for “falsification of official documents,” four years for “violation of the law regulating unauthorized medical crimes,” and a judicial fine of 18,000 liras. The court also released Özkiraz, taking into account the period of her detention.