The Public Prosecution Service demands 18 months in prison for a 36-year-old man from Mijdrecht who forged diplomas to work in healthcare.
Doubts
The case comes to light when, on October 9, 2023, a patient in a care institution chokes on a piece of apple in the presence of the suspect. Her death is ruled an accident. When the police then register the suspect as a witness in their systems, it turns out he has 26 prior convictions. Investigators immediately wonder whether the suspect, given his criminal record, can have a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG).
The police then investigate the employment agency where the suspect was working at that time. They discover that the diploma the suspect submitted was forged. The police also review the file at a temporary employment agency where the suspect had previously worked. That investigation shows that the suspect submitted both a forged diploma and a forged VOG there.
Previous Report
Earlier that year, a mediation organization that connects healthcare organizations with freelancers raised the alarm. They doubted the authenticity of a diploma submitted by the suspect and contacted DUO. Inquiry revealed that no diploma from the suspect was known to DUO. In June 2023, DUO therefore filed a report against the suspect for forging a diploma. Later, the investigation shows that the suspect mentions a diploma on his Curriculum Vitae (CV) that he clearly did not obtain. With a forged CV, forged VOG, a forged diploma, and forged extracts from DUO, he applied multiple times and thus found work for nearly two years at various healthcare organizations, where he mostly worked with very vulnerable patients.
190,000 euros
The suspect has so far only remained silent. He takes no responsibility for his actions and also did not appear at the probation service. His motives therefore remain unclear, although money seems to be the main driving force. Financial investigations reveal that he has earned approximately 190,000 euros through various employment agencies.
“Completely Unqualified”
Regarding the seriousness of the facts, the prosecutor is clear. “The suspect has seriously undermined the trust that society, and in particular the healthcare sector, must be able to have in the authenticity of diplomas,” she states. “The suspect completely disregarded the interest of very vulnerable patients, who, without knowing it – or the other nursing staff – were left in the hands of the suspect, who was completely unqualified.” The Public Prosecution Service demands an 18-month prison sentence for the 36-year-old suspect, of which 3 months are conditional with a probation period of 2 years. In addition, an amount of 189,531 euros is claimed.