process - Swindler as Government Advisor: Prosecution demands probation
In the trial against a suspected impostor, who had advised the NRW state government on Islamic matters for years, the prosecution is demanding a two-year suspended sentence. The 48-year-old is accused of forging documents, deceiving people, and unlawfully using academic titles, argued the prosecutor at the Duisburg District Court. "Apparently, it was all about making the right career. In truth, he had never passed any exams." However, the prosecutor dropped 9 of the 28 individual charges after the evidence hearing.
The 48-year-old had largely admitted to the charges. However, his lawyer emphasized that the man was not a calculated impostor. The authorities had neglected to check his qualifications during hiring and promotions, he criticized. At the same time, his client had delivered excellent work without the necessary state examinations, which led to his continuous promotions. Therefore, the defense requested a suspended sentence of only eight months.
The 48-year-old, who was considered a professor in name only, had been quite successful. He received awards and was a sought-after speaker and interview partner on integration issues. Eventually, he advised ministers directly in the NRW state government.
The cooperation with the state of NRW ended in 2021. The state government stated at the time that there were "founded doubts regarding his academic career." Additionally, the state filed a complaint.
A verdict is expected to be announced on Friday. The defendant enjoys the presumption of innocence until the final judgment.
- Despite the dropped charges, the public prosecutor in North Rhine-Westphalia's Duisburg District Court still pursues a two-year suspended sentence for the impostor, citing his criminal acts during the court process.
- The impostor, who once advised the North Rhine-Westphalia government on Islamic matters, is currently under probation after being accused of forging documents, deceiving individuals, and using false academic titles in Duisburg.
- The North Rhine-Westphalia government, having filed a complaint after discovering doubts about the impostor's academic career in 2021, now awaits the verdict from the District Court's public prosecutor's office.
- The indictment against the impostor resulted from his activities within the North Rhine-Westphalia state government, a fact that has led to increased scrutiny of hiring and promotion practices within public institutions.
- During the trial, the defense argued that the alleged impostor's success in Duisburg and his ongoing work with the North Rhine-Westphalia government's integration issues were due to the government's negligence in checking his qualifications.
