ruth901
Sick for 16 yearsDid the teacher call in permanently sick in order to secretly work as a naturopath?
The teacher from the Ruhr area is said to have faked her inability to work, according to the accusation. (archive)
Michael Brandt/dpa
Not in the mood for school?
A teacher from North Rhine-Westphalia was on sick leave for 16 years. But that could have just been an illusion; she is said to have worked as a naturopath at the same time. Now the Duisburg public prosecutor's office is also interested in the case – and is searching the woman's house!
Investigators secure documents and data carriers
Investigators searched the apartment of a teacher in the Ruhr area who was on sick leave for 16 years and is said to have faked her inability to work. The Duisburg public prosecutor's office said the search warrant was executed on Tuesday. “Evidential documents and electronic data carriers were secured”. Now the material must be evaluated. The WAZ had previously reported.
Reading tip: Teacher has been on sick leave for almost 16 years (!) – with full salary
Has been on sick leave repeatedly since 2009
The woman is being investigated on suspicion of commercial fraud. The case of the teacher from the Ruhr area, who worked at a vocational college in Wesel, made headlines last year and also occupied state politics.
The woman had not worked since 2009. She repeatedly took sick leave without the state intervening and demanding an official medical examination. Disciplinary proceedings were therefore initiated against the teacher and an employee of the responsible Düsseldorf district government.
Reading tip: She refuses to see the medical officer – a teacher who has been on sick leave for 16 years
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In the video: Permanently ill teacher in court
The supposedly ill person is said to have worked as a naturopath
During the criminal investigation of the case, there were indications that the woman had knowingly provided false information to the country as her employer. According to the investigation, while she pretended to be unfit for work, she worked as a naturopath and also took part in a start-up competition, the investigators wrote. Because she received her salary as a teacher wrongly, this could be commercial fraud.
The investigation is not about the entire 16 years in which the woman was on sick leave, but only about the past four years. A spokesman for the public prosecutor's office explained that the allegations could have expired beforehand. The presumption of innocence applies until the proceedings are legally concluded.
In North Rhine-Westphalia, several cases of teachers on sick leave have concerned politicians and the public in recent months. Regarding the case of the teacher from the Ruhr area, School Minister Dorothee Feller (CDU) said that the incident was “inexcusable and also incomprehensible in its dimensions”.
Sources used: dpa
