A school case. Ahmed (assumed first name) has managed, with the help of his lawyer, to obtain the cancellation of his sanction: a final exclusion from Saint-Louis-Brussels University (UClouvain). This student in economics and management was accused of having passed an exam in place of Brahim (assumed first name), his twin brother Monozygote. Clearly: his real twin that Hmed would have, according to his university, replaced on the benches to carry out a macroeconomics test, that he himself had succeeded in the previous year. The case dates back to the June 2022 session but only experienced its culmination a few days ago, in June 2025.
Two graphologists on the file
The examination takes place on June 4, 2022, between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. but ten days later, the president of the jury for the faculty of economic sciences and management informs Brahim that there is a suspicion of fraud and that, according to him, it was his brother Ahmed who would have passed the exam in his place. Quickly, the two brothers with their parents defend themselves. They produce graphological expertise indicating that despite appearances and similarities, “These are indeed distinct writings which belong to two different authors“.
Sufficient to close the accusation? No way. Saint-Louis cancels all Brahim’s notes during his June session and forbids him to come to the September session. That’s not all: a disciplinary sanction for exclusion from the two brothers is envisaged by the examination jury and the vice-rector.
Especially since Saint-Louis also calls on a graphologist expert. For the latter, no doubt: Brahim is not the author his copy of examination.
An appointment with the physiotherapist
In August, after taking an academic sanction against Brahim, already confirming cheating before he even heard Ahmed, the vice-rector then launched the procedure against it. Hearing in September, Ahmed presents his alibi. Impossible, he said that he passed his brother’s exam on June 4, 2022 because that day, at 3 p.m., he had a care session with his physiotherapist. Ahmed will produce certificates from the practitioner, a legal declaration of the latter, a list of appointments, medical prescriptions … Nothing is doing it: the sanction of excluding it is taken. Seizure, a disciplinary committee will also confirm the dismissal. Ahmed and Brahim turn to the Council of State, each on their side.
If Ahmed was able to resume studies in another university from the start of the 2023 school year, the fact remains that he wishes to restore his honor. Hence its recourse. Because no, he says, he did not pass the macroeconomics exam by his brother, supporting evidence. Evidence that the university would have quickly swept away, considering them non -convincing and having been produced late.
But for the Council of State, based on the only conclusions of a graphologist expert to sanction a student is not enough. This is why he decided to cancel the exclusion sanction. “”There was, estimates the Council of State“, Comments Maître Augustin Daout, who defends Ahmed,”Manifest error of appreciation and lack of motivation on the part of Saint-Louis, insofar as my client had succeeded in bringing a whole series of elements of evidence which demonstrated that he was well with his physiotherapist. For the Council of State, the elements produced by my client must be considered serious and they should not be swept away with a backhand. Everything that is said here by my client is perfectly plausible and it is necessary to give good faith to people.“
We treat you as a liar, it’s harmful
If Ahmed’s exclusion is now canceled, no one wants to qualify it as a victory. “”To a certain extent, we can be delighted with the judgment of the Council of State, but it does not prevent this file from leaving indelible traces“, Details Maître Daout.”You can imagine that when you are about to graduate, that you are called a liar and that you are excluded from the university when you are three exams of your diploma, it is extremely harmful. My client has had a lot of difficulties and he always has difficulty getting back in the saddle. And therefore this file, regardless of the sense of the result which is favorable to it, is extremely prejudicial.“
Maître Augustin DAOUT also explains that this time judicial decision of the court of appeal seized by his client had already concluded that a fault in the head of Saint-Louis, who decided to appeal to the cassation.
Ahmed could decide to attack his former university for financial compensation. “”All of this must be discussed, no procedure is currently diligent. But we don’t exclude anything“Indicates Maître Daout.
As for Brahim, he continued studies abroad. And abandoned any fight against Saint-Louis.
