# German teacher charged over £209,000 in pay during 16-year absence

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/teacher-who-went-on-sick-leave-for-16-years-on-full-pay-is-charged-with-defrauding-german-college-of-hundreds-of-thousands-of-pounds/
- Published: 2026-10-28T18:51:03+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T19:08:12+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16246481/Teacher-went-sick-leave-16-years-pay-charged-defrauding-German-college.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- 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.

## Summary

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.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.