Forgery of documents - Possible swindler advises government - fraud trial
A supposed impostor, who made it as far as an advisor to the North Rhine-Westphalia state government, stands in court in Duisburg starting from today (9:00 AM). The prosecutor accuses the man of forgery of documents, fraud, and the unauthorized use of academic degrees in 28 cases.
With his allegedly fabricated academic degrees, the supposed professor made a career. For more than ten years, he advised the changing North Rhine-Westphalia state governments on Islamic matters. In 2021, the state ended the cooperation and wrote that "there are founded doubts regarding his academic career." The state also filed a complaint.
The prosecutor accuses the man of first forging documents about his teaching certifications at the Duisburg school office. For twelve years, he allegedly worked as a civil servant teacher, although he actually did not possess the necessary qualifications.
Later, he allegedly presented forged certificates about a dissertation, the basis for the doctorate title, at the University of Duisburg-Essen. At the Police Academy, he applied for a position as a professor and got the job with a professor title.
Legally, the fact that the supposed impostor advised the North Rhine-Westphalia state government plays no role: For such a task, no specific qualifications are required, so there is likely no criminal offense in this regard.
The defendant enjoys the presumption of innocence until the verdict becomes legally binding. His lawyer declined to comment on the case upon request.
- The alleged forgery of teaching certifications at the Duisburg school office is just one aspect of the prosecutor's case against the man, as they also accuse him of presenting forged documents about his dissertation at the University of Duisburg-Essen.
- The teacher's time as an advisor to the North Rhine-Westphalia state government came to an end in 2021, with the state stating their concerns about his academic background and filing a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office in DUISBURG.
- Despite the teacher's allegedly fraudulent activities, the Government in North Rhine-Westphalia stressed that there were no specific qualifications required for the role he held, which may not constitute a criminal offense.
- The prosecution's case against the teacher, now on trial in Duisburg, includes accusations of criminality in relation to forged documents and unauthorized usage of academic degrees in numerous instances, which could potentially lead to severe consequences.
