German teacher charged over £209,000 in pay during 16-year absence
A teacher in Wesel, Germany, has been charged with allegedly defrauding her college of nearly €250,000 (£209,000) while receiving full pay during 16 years of sick leave. Prosecutors also accuse her of forging two medical certificates to appear fit to scuba dive; the case raises questions about how her prolonged absence went unchecked.
The 62-year-old stopped attending the vocational college in 2009, citing chronic illness and psychological problems, but allegedly ran a beauty and naturopathic business during her absence. An independent medical assessment should have followed after three months, yet her sick leave was repeatedly renewed. An audit after a management change in 2024 uncovered the case; she refused a state-ordered examination and lost legal appeals, while officials say recovering the money may be difficult.
In short
- German teacher charged over nearly €250,000 in salary during sick leave.
- She was paid in full for 16 years away from work.
- An audit uncovered the case after a management change in 2024.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
If the allegations are proved, a public employee who received full pay for years while able to run a business may have breached the trust on which sick-leave arrangements depend. The case also supports calls for institutions to act on missed medical reviews and verify continuing eligibility, both to protect public funds and to ensure fair treatment of colleagues who cover absent staff.
The case against
Long-term illness, including psychological illness, can be difficult to assess, and running a business does not by itself establish fitness to teach or prove fraud. A fair process should distinguish alleged misconduct from established facts, respect medical privacy and legal rights, and avoid treating refusal of an examination or disputed certificates as proof of guilt before the court has considered the evidence.
Explained simply
In Germany, public vocational colleges provide practical and career-focused education, and their staff are generally paid by the state or local authorities. Employees on long-term sick leave may remain on full pay, but their health and ability to work can be reviewed.
The case centres on a teacher at a college in Wesel, in western Germany, and the officials responsible for managing her employment and sick leave. Prosecutors allege that she received pay while absent for years and also ran a business; the allegations have not been proved in court.
The case has drawn attention to how the college renewed her sick leave and why the expected medical review did not take place. It also raises practical questions about oversight in public institutions and whether public money can be recovered after alleged fraud.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Teacher who went on sick leave for 16 years on full pay is charged with defrauding German college of hundreds of thousands of pounds”.