Former professor Herman appeals dismissal
Former professor Herman appeals dismissal
Door Giulia Fabrizi
By Giulia Fabrizi
The Groningen court decided last March that the UG’s dismissal of the professor was justified. The university fired him in January of this year for subsidies fraud and falsification of documents.
Herman is alleged to have used the private foundation Stichting NOHA Groningen (SNG) to gain access to European subsidies that were intended to go to the Groningen NOHA programme. The UG says the foundation was set up without its knowledge and therefore the funds were used outside the university’s purview.
No control
The court agreed with the university’s reasoning. By running the money through SNG, Herman ensured the university had no control over the funds, making it impossible for the UG to decide how the money was being spent.
The judge said Herman’s actions were ‘reprehensible’ and made him ‘seriously culpable’, even if Herman never intended to profit off his actions or damage the UG in any way. The judge therefore decided the UG was right in dismissing the professor.
Herman’s lawyer said ‘the reasoning behind what made his actions seriously culpable’ was missing. The lawyer wondered, among other things, why exactly his actions were so serious. This question will be asked in the Leeuwarden court as well.