Former Covid Operations Deputy Hit with Fines for Absences and Reputational Damage
A court has levied significant financial penalties against Patrick Franzoni, the former deputy head of Covid operations, following scrutiny of his conduct during the pandemic lockdown. Franzoni is required to pay 722.59 euros for unauthorized absences and 30,000 euros for damage to the reputation of his employer, a medical company.
An initial acquittal in criminal proceedings alleging fraud against the medical company was overturned by a guilty verdict at the Court of Auditors, prolonging the legal repercussions for the ex-Vice Covid Operations Manager. The case centers on Franzoni’s absences from work during the height of the Corona lockdown.
The judicial section of the Court of Auditors ordered Franzoni to pay 722.59 euros in compensation. Furthermore, the court found that Franzoni’s actions caused 30,000 euros worth of damage to the medical company’s reputation, a figure aligned with the prosecution’s demands. He was also sentenced to jointly pay 24,400 euros alongside ex-Health Director General Florian Zerzer for expenses related to two mask tests conducted at the private testing institutes Dekra and Centrocot.
“We will most likely appeal the verdict,” stated Franzoni’s lawyer, Mattia Praloran.
The court’s decision reflects a harsh assessment of Franzoni’s behavior. Despite his professional role in containing the pandemic, the verdict states he “ignored and downright despised” the rules in effect at the time, exhibiting “an inadmissible self-design of his role as a doctor, a deliberate absenceism.”
The court found that Franzoni violated social distancing guidelines during his time away from work, specifically citing visits to women. In an attempt to justify these absences, he allegedly misrepresented one visit as a “medical check,” a move the court deemed manipulative.
Interestingly, Franzoni was acquitted in the criminal proceedings related to these episodes, with the court finding “because there was no crime” committed.
However, Praloran argued that the time clocks were malfunctioning during the relevant period, and any financial damage would be limited to a maximum of 35 euros. Regarding the conviction for the mask test expenses, the lawyer asserted that Franzoni was simply following the orders of Florian Zerzer, selecting protective equipment for testing in Stuttgart. A member of the state parliament at the time, Josef Unterholzner, reportedly made the trip to Stuttgart independently.
This case highlights the complex legal and ethical challenges faced by public health officials during the pandemic and the scrutiny to which their actions were subjected.
