Former director enriched himself for years with money from school greenhouse: « forged spending statements of the school credit card » (Bruges)

The defendant came to the head of the Bruges primary school Hemelsdaele in 2010, which would later merge with the Sint-Leocollege. PC (56) enjoyed a flawless reputation for years, but in 2020 he fell off his pedestal. Then it came to light that the Bruggeling had enriched itself since 2013 with money from the school greenhouse and had made personal purchases at the expense of Hemelsdaele.

According to the public prosecutor, the former director started in two ways. On the one hand, he passed money sums of an account for a European exchange program to his private account. Between 2013 and 2020, he thus skewed 85,000 euros. In addition, he would also have put 96,000 euros in cash income from childcare and cooking sales in his own pocket. That was partly about black money.

According to the public prosecutor, PC did everything to keep his tampering hidden. « For example, he falsified the expenditure states of the school’s credit card, » said attorney Saskia Schepens in the Bruges criminal court on Wednesday. « And when he was caught, he falsified a piece that showed that the account in question was zero. We lift it particularly heavily. »

Read too. School board is considering lawsuit against director for tampering

It is not clear how the facts came to light in 2020. The fact is that PC then took the flight ahead by resigning as director. In the meantime he has a different job. Attorney Schepens asked for the man twelve months in prison with postponement for abuse of trust and forgery.

No proof

PC confessed that he overlooked 85,000 euros to his private account and in the meantime paid this amount back to the school. The man did not dispute that he falsified documents either. « When everything came to light, he panicked, » lawyer Peter de Becker argued. But the man strongly denied the fact that he also stolen 96,000 cash. « This is purely based on the statements of the secretary, » Master De Becker argued. « There is no evidence. »

The defense insisted on the favor of the suspension. The man also took the floor and be the school board with the finger. « In all those years I was never explained how to manage the money from childcare. It was not even told me that I had to book that money, » it sounded. When asked what he did with the money, there was no answer.

According to the Katholiek Education Bruges & Ommeland school group, PC broke over 250,000 euros. She positioned herself at the Civil Party process and reverses this amount in the form of compensation. « The school group completely distances itself from these sad facts, » said lawyer Bart Bleyaert.

The ruling will follow on May 14.