- Italian cop was caught on CCTV clocking in then going to get dressed
- Alberto Muraglia was pictured stamping time card in underpants and a T-shirt
A sacked Italian policeman who became an international laughing stock for clocking in to work in his Y-fronts has won his job back – and a huge lump sum in back pay.
Alberto Muraglia, 61, from Sanremo, became embroiled in a corruption enquiry in 2015 after being pictured stamping his time card wearing just his underpants and a T-shirt.
The portly officer was captured on CCTV in 2014 punching the card in the council accommodation block where he lived with his family near his place of work.
After clocking on, he then went back upstairs to his apartment to get dressed into his uniform before heading back to the office for his shift.
As a result of the clip captured on police security cameras, Muraglia was charged with defrauding the state of public funds – and opened himself up to years of public ridicule.
Alberto Muraglia was pictured stamping his time card in his council accommodation block where he lived with his family near his place of work
Muraglia returned to court where he won his case again this week
When images taken from the CCTV footage made the headlines the police officer became a national example of the nation’s fight against workers in council offices and government departments who are often absent.
The Sanremo inquiry found that one town hall worker was clocking on and then spending the day kayaking while others were seen out shopping or with friends.
When Muraglia’s role was terminated, a court acquitted him in 2020 of the charge of defrauding the state of public funds.
It ruled that getting dressed for work is part of an employee’s official duties.
The judge ruled that Muraglia was within his rights to clock in then go home to get dressed.
Muraglia was caught on police CCTV clocking in, then going back upstairs to his apartment to get dressed into his uniform before heading back to the office for his shift
At the time, Muraglia deemed the verdict a vindication after being mocked by the Italian press.
However, the town of Sanremo refused to allow him to return to the position.
Muraglia returned to court where he won his case again this week.
A judge ruled that he should be re-employed and receive back pay of €250,000 (£21,857), dating back to when his role finished, minus earnings during the years in between from a business he had set up.
‘It’s the end of a nightmare,’ Muraglia said. ‘These have been years of suffering for me in which I have been splashed across front pages around the world in my underpants.’
He noted, though, that he would be wearing his clothes to clock in.
