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The trade in counterfeit Covid certificates is flourishing – cases are now known in almost all cantons.
Buy a fake certificate instead of getting vaccinated. In the canton of Schaffhausen, an employee of the cantonal vaccination center allegedly forged several hundred certificates. For several weeks – apparently undisturbed. “He took data from actually vaccinated people, changed them and created a certificate that was untrue in terms of content,” says Schaffhausen public prosecutor Peter Sticher in the “Rundschau”.
After information from the Federal Office of Police and a report from the vaccination center, the forger could be convicted. The main suspect gave some of the certificates away, and some he sold them for 300 to 400 francs. “I find that reprehensible,” says Sticher.
Had an easy game
The main suspect was arrested. His offense: multiple forgery of documents. He faces several years imprisonment. Nihat Tektas, public defender of the prime suspect, confirms: It was pretty easy to create the certificates. “My client took two or three actions and the certificates were already issued,” he says.
“He didn’t need any in-depth IT knowledge.” Therefore one could not accuse him of great criminal energy. The main suspect now regrets the incidents and is ready to stand by his actions. He probably only became aware of the true extent of his actions afterwards.
Switzerland-wide problem
Schaffhausen is not an isolated case. In the past few days, reports from different cantons have increased. As an example: According to “CH Media”, 6000 fraudulent certificates are said to have been issued in the canton of St. Gallen. The suspects are in custody. And in the canton of Bern, the canton police arrested two people who work in the Moutier hospital. They are suspected of having forged more than 100 certificates.
And research by the “Rundschau” shows: almost all cantons are aware of cases of certificate forgery. Sometimes only a few – like in Appenzell Ausserrhoden. Sometimes massive numbers – like in Schaffhausen or Vaud. Various proceedings are ongoing across Switzerland due to the falsification of vaccination certificates. Only the cantons of Jura, Ticino and Uri have so far not known any cases.
Who is in charge?
The Federal Office of Public Health sees the responsibility with the cantons. The control options by the federal government are limited: “Numerous service providers are authorized by the cantons to issue certificates; Anyone who vaccinates or tests must also be able to issue certificates, ”writes the BAG. The federal government is in weekly contact with the cantons and discusses tips and recommendations for the further development of the system.
In the canton of Schaffhausen, the health department, which is responsible for the vaccination center, does not want to comment on the specific case: “It is an ongoing procedure.” For public prosecutor Peter Sticher, however, it is clear that the weak point is the human being: “If you give someone certain powers, you have to have a certain amount of trust.”