Brussels – The Brussels court has appointed an independent expert to investigate allegations of fraud related to the 2025 medical entrance exam. Lawyer Christophe Vangel represents around 30 students, with 20 to 30 participants suspected of cheating, reports 24brussels.
This decision follows a summary hearing on September 3, 2025, where the court named a specialist to assess potential irregularities in the examination process. The Flemish government sought a delay and opposed the involvement of external experts, arguing it could compromise their ongoing investigation. However, the court rejected this appeal, permitting the experts to proceed.
Flemish Minister for Education Ben Weyts indicated that her investigation has identified 20 to 30 potential fraud cases but asserted that there is no evidence of widespread cheating, implying that a re-examination is unnecessary. Vangel plans to review the expert’s findings before making public statements.
Details of the investigation
Vangel stated, “It proves that the students were right to suspect fraud,” in response to the investigation’s conclusions. He emphasized the need for clarification regarding the minister’s commission and its execution, maintaining the demand for an external expert.
The court instructed the appointed expert to first evaluate the Flemish government’s inquiry, ensuring compliance with technical standards in identifying potential digital fraud. Should the expert determine that the government’s investigation was inadequate, they may launch an independent examination into the allegations.
Students who requested the investigation are required to pay a deposit for the expert’s services. Upon receipt of payment, the expert has three days to commence their investigation.
The court has set a one-month deadline for the final report, with provisions for extending the timeline if necessary. This inquiry will extend past September 22, 2025, aligning with the start of the new academic year.
The controversy around the medical entrance exam erupted earlier in 2025, following allegations of cheating after the results were published. In early August, approximately 30 students filed legal challenges citing irregularities. The Flemish government initiated its investigation in late July 2025, which led to the detection of fraud suspicions, culminating in the court’s decision to appoint an independent expert on September 3.