Cevher Toktas, who currently plays with Turkish league team Bursa Yildirimspor, has been charged with the murder of his five-year-old son who was admitted to a hospital on suspicion of a coronavirus infection.

According to a state run agency, the 32-year-old Turkish football player turned himself in to the police and confessed to smothering his son, Kasim, with a pillow on May 4. "The boy's death was initially not believed to be suspicious, although he tested negative for COVID-19. His body has been exhumed for an autopsy as part of the investigation," the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. In his statement, Toktas allegedly mentioned that he killed his son as he did not love him but decided to hand himself over to the police as he felt remorse. Kasim was reportedly admitted to the children's hospital in the northwestern province of Bursa on April 23 after he suffered severe cough and high fever. Soon after, Toktas suffocated him with a pillow and informed the hospital authorities that his condition had worsened.

The five-year-old was then shifted to the Intensive Care Unit, two hours after which he breathed his last. Further investigation of the matter is currently underway, while the trial date for the accused is yet to be set.