German law professor in grades-for-sex, degrees-for-cash scandal

Sep 7, 2007, 10:27 GMT

Hanover, Germany - A professor of law at Leibniz University in the German city of Hanover faces charges of inflating marks for female students in exchange for sex and of selling doctorates, the daily Sueddeutsche newspaper reported Friday.

Also charged are two managers of a business consulting firm, which is alleged to have paid the professor a total of 184,000 euros (250,000 dollars), and two female students, who lent the professor their favours in return for higher grades.

'We very much regret the matter,' Leinniz University spokeswoman Stefanie Beier told the newspaper. 'But we assume that this is an isolated case of considerable criminal enterprise.'

Hanover prosecutors are charging the unnamed professor on 78 counts of corruption. The company managers are charged with acting as a go-between for the doctoral candidates he assisted.

The professor's greed might have gone unnoticed, but for his weakness for his female students.

Other female students had complained to the local examining authority, insisting that they should not have the professor marking their work, the Sueddeutsche reported.

After this became known, the university began a probe that resulted in the suspension of the professor and his banning from university property.

Fearing the professor might seek to flee justice, the court ordered Thursday that he remain in custody.