Doctor factory goes bankrupt.

The Institute for Scientific Advice "in Bergisch Gladbach helped solvent clients more than two decades of Dr. before the name. Now it is insolvent - because of a bribery case, a high for the punishment was due. Reaction to the Unis: jubilation and gloating.

 

"Error 404 - not found", says the network, if the Web page of the Institute for Science Advice "in Bergisch Gladbach calls. Because of "accumulated arrears", the ISP terminated his services, explained the officially established insolvency. He is responsible for the insolvent company around and has the responsibility of "business operation".

DPA
Promotion Consultant Martin D. (left, with his lawyer): Due convicted

It is a promotional advice, since more than 20 years in the sphere of works by German universities, well known and highly controversial. The institute gave cash-capable and willing doctoral candidate at Doctor fathers. It prides itself on being more than a thousand PhD projects are planned to have been alone since 2000, had more than 350 doctoral students and to promote negotiations with more than 40 German faculties together.

According to self-promotion, it was about legal assistance in the design and the literature search - "not a commercial title, no Ghostwriting"; about 15 hours a week would have to have doctoral schedule. Critics, however, repeatedly expressed the suspicion that this is not always the right things with receives. However, demonstrated that the Institute is not long - until last year to a spectacular process stalled, now also at the end of the Institute leads.

Bribery business idea

Economics Professor Manuel Rene Theisen from Munich, one of the
harshest critics of the company Bergisch Gladbach, welcomed the end, because the willing helpers "for many years the scientific work in Germany have undermined". For the German Association of Universities (DHV), the professional organization of university professors, consultants are professional doctorate in general, "suspected of being dishonest in the award doctorate to be involved." A supervisor, who will be caught, can not be a member of the association, says spokesman Matthias Jaroch.

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Has triggered the suspension of Sebastian P., one of the two company directors, not personally involved in the suspected abduction of a sträflichen bankruptcy provisions. The factual background of the decline lies in a criminal against his companion D. Martin, 54, because of commercial bribery, a doctoral father in 61 cases. The investigations started since 2005.

According to ruling of July 2008 had D. Martin, even a doctorate in a philosopher, a confessed law professor at the University of Hanover in 4100 euros each time paid when a client of the consulting institute made to the doctor. One half was there for the adoption of the candidate, the other after a successful promotion, usually limited to the account of a straw man or a woman from the straw relatives of the recipient.

The Hannoverian law professor from the Institute had more than 150,000 euros and was approved by the district court to Hildesheim
three years in prison, "because of bribery in a particularly severe case." Martin D. Promotion mediator should due to bribery
three and a half years in prison and 75,000 euros. The verdict is not yet in force, as well as the fine of 150,000 euros for the promotion counseling.

Bribery is not as operating through

The financial imbalance is now substantial. "Since the criminally sanctioned grants to the professor is not deductible as business expenses are," says the administrator, would be against the Agency juicy "tax claims." They are usually within a month to pay deferral is an exception to the discretion of the authority.

In this specific case, the insolvency administrator in addition to high legal costs for the criminal and "substantial revenue losses" by the press coverage about it. Moreover, with money recovered "a large number of doctoral students" to be expected, which has not yet been fully served. Because for the deposit of the customer supplied the institute not only a supervisor. It also committed itself to additional services such as literature for the thesis.

Parallel to the criminal proceedings in Lower Saxony, the public prosecutor in Cologne in March 2008 a further investigation because of the promotional advice and is crate as contracts with customers and helpers professoralen
seized. When the sighting of the documents will be finalized, according to senior prosecutor Guenther field is still in the stars. Therefore, the insolvency administrator "an exhaustive review" whether further criminal, tax and civil law to exclude questionable promotional projects are not possible. Therefore, for him, "a continuation of the company" no longer relevant.

Occupational accidents in the promotion counseling

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That the institute from Bergisch Gladbach give up, for the Righteous Among the teachers an occasion for rejoicing. But it is only an accident in the commercial promotion advice. It remains "a little durchdringbares legal thicket," as DHV Jaroch spokesman says. Thus, 55 of Bergisch Gladbach in Hanover mediated a doctoral money in circulation equal to one month's salary flexed. Strictly speaking, this means there are no criminal, legally, there is therefore in the public interest to prosecute.

Four doctoral students still went to court and public prosecutor, according to Hanover in force acquitted. The complicity of bribery by a supervisor, they were not demonstrated. But a precaution, the Hannoverian Law Faculty since the experience with the corrupt professor of all doctoral the affidavit, no commercial consultants have turned to.

Many other departments in Germany are not (yet) so far. Because a "prohibition" for the meantime, the protected industrial freedom. Indeed, the Medical Faculty of the University of Munster in 2006 two years before temporarily in Bergisch Gladbach Institute and now self-employed consultants without further promotion to professor appointed. The scholars were in the professional activities of their new colleagues recognize no stigma.