process - Swindler advised NRW-government - Probation sentence
A fraudster, who had advised the NRW state government on Islamic matters for years, has been sentenced to a two-year probation sentence. The judges at the Duisburg District Court were convinced that he had forged documents, deceived, and illegally used academic titles.
The 48-year-old had largely admitted to the charges. As a supposed professor and doctor, he had made a career in the NRW Ministry of Education and Science - in reality, he had not graduated from any university.
"I believe there's a healthy dose of narcissism in you as well," said the presiding judge in her judgment to the supposed professor. "You seemed to enjoy being addressed as such."
The judgment largely followed the prosecution's request. The defendant's lawyer had demanded a significantly shorter probation sentence and emphasized that his client was not a calculating fraudster. The authorities had made it too easy for him and had not paid enough attention to his qualifications, the lawyer criticized.
The supposed professor had been quite successful as a supposed professor. He received awards and was a sought-after speaker and interview partner on questions of integration. He also participated in discussion events, for example, with the former Federal President Christian Wulff, and eventually advised ministers directly in the NRW state government - even on sensitive issues of Islamic religious education.
The cooperation with the state of NRW ended in 2021. The Landesregierung wrote at the time that "there are founded doubts regarding his academic career." The land also filed a complaint.
The judgment is not yet legally binding. Until the legally binding conclusion of the proceedings, the accused enjoys the presumption of innocence.
- The fraudulent advisor's two-year probation sentence was handed down by the District Court in Duisburg, located in North Rhine-Westphalia.
- The Duisburg District Court's judgments against the alleged professor included findings of document forgery, deception, and misuse of academic titles.
- The allegations against the individual leading to his criminal proceedings in North Rhine-Westphalia's courts involved charges of criminality and academic fraud.
- Upon the conclusion of the legal process, the government will review any potential consequences for the unqualified individual who had previously served as an advisor in North Rhine-Westphalia's Ministry of Education and Science.
