Trial Nears Conclusion in Elaborate Fake Plagiarism Scandal

A 70-year-old defendant is accused of orchestrating a falsified book to discredit a forensic scientist, allegedly motivated by personal revenge.

Prosecutors allege the defendant commissioned a fake scientific book to falsely accuse forensic scientist Matthias Graw of plagiarism.
The fabricated book, supposedly from a 1982 Romanian medical congress, included passages copied from Graw's doctoral thesis.
The defendant, a holder of two doctorates, reportedly auctioned copies online and hired plagiarism investigators to publicize the claims.
The alleged motive was revenge for the forensic institute’s autopsy of the defendant's mother in 2020 against his wishes.
The trial has been delayed due to multiple defense motions, with closing arguments and a verdict now expected on February 18.