- Siblings Manipulated Large-Scale Language Assessments Resulting in Prison Penalties
On the pathway to securing a German passport, foreigners encounter two significant obstacles: the process of naturalization and the challenging language test. Generally, the language test is considered the most difficult hurdle, and its certificate of completion is highly desired. A pair of brothers, operating a well-managed system, have allegedly fabricated and sold documents such as language certificates and certificates from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees for roughly 500 individuals. Due to falsification in 355 instances, the 32-year-old and his elder brother, aged 6 years older, have received 4.5 and 4 years, 8 months prison sentences, respectively, by the Stuttgart Regional Court.
The men have made substantial confessions. Their younger brother is currently under investigation for similar charges. Additionally, an administrator from a language school is being separately investigated.
As per the court's estimates, the brothers from Aspach (Rems-Murr district) offered almost all the necessary documentation that their clients had to submit to the authorities. The products were well-crafted, with both prosecution and defense acknowledging their quality. In notebooks, they jotted down the names and addresses of their clients, along with the prices and any outstanding debts. The siblings have proven a profit of at least 313,940 euros, according to the judge. The brothers reportedly connected with customers through social media platforms like TikTok, among others.
The prosecutor accused the defendants of undermining essential aspects of the rule of law, setting a significant contradiction to the existing legal order with their actions. According to the indictment, the documents were distributed to clients in a local bar in Backnang, via post, or given by a suspected accomplice language school in Ellwangen.
The expertly forged documents resulted in manipulated data storage, leading to false test results via QR codes, among other things. The listed language schools mentioned in the indictment were stated not to exist, according to the prosecution. The forgeries were allegedly provided by customers to obtain a residence permit or naturalization in multiple instances.
Language tests are mandatory for receiving a German passport
Since 2008, every immigrant must undergo a language test if they wish to secure a German passport. The purpose is to demonstrate adequate language skills in German. For instance, applicants for naturalization are expected to have enough German language competency to efficiently communicate with fellow citizens, at their workplaces, and with German authorities.
Attempts at forgery have been noticed in the past. "The defendants did not originate the business concept themselves but exploited it on a large scale," the Stuttgart judge also stated.
It has been reported that attempts have been made to send individuals with excellent German language skills to the language tests required for naturalization. Language schools have also garnered attention in the past for alleged involvement in helping immigrants cheat in language tests for important certificates or turning a blind eye to deceptions.
The effects of the Stuttgart verdicts remain uncertain.
It remains unclear what impact the verdicts in the Stuttgart case will have on the allegedly forged documents and whether citizenships or residence permits could be rescinded if they were obtained through falsification. "Legally, both options are feasible under certain conditions," a spokesperson for the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF) said during the trial's initial phase. The responsible authorities would mainly be the local immigration offices in the federal states.
The Stuttgart verdicts have yet to be finalized. Both men can file appeals. The prison sentences fall within an agreed range, as per the agreement between the defense and the prosecution.
The brothers from Aspach, known for their language certificate and residence permit document forgery, hail from the Rems-Murr district. Their well-crafted falsifications included almost all necessary documents needed for German authorities.
Despite previous attempts at forgery being noticed, the Stuttgart trial highlighted the large-scale exploitation of the business concept by the defendants.
