German Prosecutors Charge Teacher After 16 Years on Sick Leave
The 62-year-old educator collected full pay for over a decade and a half while investigators also uncovered forged diving certificates.
Prosecutors in Duisburg, Germany, have filed fraud and document forgery charges against a 62-year-old high school teacher who remained on paid sick leave for 16 years without stepping in front of a classroom. The educator, formerly employed at a vocational college in Wesel, North Rhine-Westphalia, stopped teaching in August 2009 but continued receiving her full salary.
According to investigators, the accused deliberately deceived her employer about her health status, knowing she was fit to work. The indictment focuses specifically on ten sick notes submitted since March 2021, during which time she allegedly collected approximately 248,000 euros unlawfully. Prosecutors cannot pursue charges for earlier years due to statutory limitation periods.
During a search of her home, law enforcement officials discovered two forged medical certificates intended to prove her health fitness for recreational diving. Investigators believe the woman manufactured the documents herself, using a nonexistent physician as the issuer. Authorities indicate she was active as a sport diver, a detail that will factor into assessments of whether she was capable of working during her prolonged absence.
The extraordinary case came to light in August 2025 when the teacher legally contested a mandatory medical examination by a public health officer. Under standard German regulations, civil servants on long-term medical leave are supposed to undergo such evaluations after three to six months. However, the regional government in Düsseldorf failed to order the check for years.
The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Education previously described the situation as a severe individual failure. A personnel administrator who held the same position for at least 15 years—contrary to standard rotation policies—is also facing disciplinary proceedings. The accused teacher has similarly been subjected to disciplinary measures and was placed into retirement, a status she is currently challenging in court.
If convicted of aggravated fraud and document forgery, the teacher could face significant prison time, which under German civil service law would result in the complete loss of her civil servant status and pension rights. The Landgericht Duisburg must now decide whether to move forward with a criminal trial. The defense attorney could not be reached for comment, and the accused has not yet addressed the public allegations.