Lawyer Carl Devos na Metoo accusation in Roman: « Nobody doubts who it is, that is a problem »
Hilde van Lieferinge and Carl Devos. – © Belgaimage
Professor Carl Devos (UGent), Sanne De Clerck, the lack of reply in a novel by publishing house EPO. The book is put on the market as fiction based on true facts. But « nobody doubts who it is still, » says lawyer Sanne De Clerck. « That’s a problem. »
In the book ‘Academic Coziness’ by former doctoral student Hilde Van Lieferinge, it is clearly referred to her client. « The publisher says that a rewrite is not necessary because it is a novel. It is not an article. It is literature, not journalism, » she says.
Yet De Clerck believes that this reasoning is not going. « Then you have to explain to me why the book starts with such a detailed personal description. Nobody doubts who it is. That is a problem. Because how should he defend himself now? Such a demarche is devastating for someone’s reputation. »
Publication continues
Because preventive censorship is forbidden in Belgium, it seems almost certain that the book will be on the market. De Clerck does not want to give any further explanation about its legal strategy for the time being. Publisher EPO previously stated that they have not yet had contact with Devos’ lawyers and that they still want to publish the book today.
The lawyer called the publication of the novel « far -reaching damage » and speaks of false accusations that are distributed through a literary detour. She stated on Monday that the work consciously contains recognizable elements that are linked to its client, without being able to defend himself. The absence of a complaint in 2011 is cited by her as a missed opportunity to handle the case legally.
“Foute estimate”
Rik van de Walle, rector of UGent, acknowledges that the university was then failed to guarantee a safe working environment. He apologized on behalf of the university and called it « a wrong estimate » that no preliminary investigation was being conducted in 2014. Although the possible facts are now unsuspecting, he wants to talk to all those involved to find out which steps are still designated.
UGent community will also receive an email from the rectorate on Tuesday. It also contains the contact details of UCare, a university service that offers confidential conversations.
Apart from the novel, new reports were received after the first revelations about Carl Devos, which relate to academic issues such as scientific integrity and PhD programs. These signals are currently being examined internally by UGent.
