A Turkish nurse faces 241 years and six months behind bars for pretending to jab patients in return for cash so they could obtain COVID-19 vaccination certificates.
Rukiye Kizilirmak Yuceturk, age not stated, was working as a nurse at a training and research hospital in the western Turkish city of Izmir when the alleged events took place.
She is accused of pretending to vaccinate seven people against the coronavirus in return for money so they could obtain vaccination certificates.
When she was suspected of the scam, her WhatsApp correspondence and money movements were investigated and reportedly incriminated her.
Local media report that one such WhatsApp message she wrote reads: “I will enter the vaccination room with a full and an empty syringe in my hand, I will throw away the full syringe, and I will apply the empty syringe to the vaccination site.”
She reportedly collected TRY 189 (GBP 10) from seven people she pretended to vaccinate against COVID-19 and another eight with whom she intended to do the same.
She is accused of 13 counts of ‘taking bribes’, seven counts of ‘unlawfully placing and changing data in the IT system’, and eight counts of ‘damaging public property’.
The patients she allegedly collaborated with are accused of similar charges.
The Izmir Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office is requesting a severe punishment of 241 years and six months behind bars for the crimes the nurse allegedly carried out last year.
The indictment prepared by the prosecutor’s office has already been accepted by the Izmir 5th High Criminal Court, meaning the case will go to trial.
Both the nurse and the patients who allegedly bribed her are due to appear in court on 12th May.
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Story By: William McGee, Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
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