A sacked Italian police officer who became an international laughingstock for his work in his Y-Fronts has got his job back – and a huge lump sum in back pay.
Alberto Muraglia (61) from Sanremo was caught up in a corruption investigation in 2015 after he was photographed stamping his time card in just his underwear and a T-shirt.
The portly officer was filmed on video cameras in 2014 punching the card at City Hall, where he lived with his family near his workplace.
After checking in, he went back to his apartment to change into his uniform before returning to the office for his shift.
As a result of the video captured by police security cameras, Muraglia was charged with defrauding public funds – and faced public ridicule for years.
Alberto Muraglia was pictured stamping his time card at his town hall, where he lived with his family near his workplace
Muraglia returned to court, where he won his case again this week
As CCTV footage made headlines, the police officer became a national example of the country’s fight against the often absent workers in local government offices and government services.
The investigation in Sanremo found that a town hall employee spent the day kayaking while others went shopping or met friends.
When Muraglia’s role ended, a court acquitted him of charges of defrauding public funds in 2020.
It determined that work clothes were part of an employee’s official duties.
The judge ruled Muraglia had the right to check in and then go home to get dressed.
Muraglia was caught on police CCTV and then went back to his apartment to change into his uniform before returning to the office for his shift.
At the time, Muraglia saw the ruling as a vindication after it was mocked by the Italian press.
However, the city of Sanremo refused to allow him to return to office.
Muraglia returned to court, where he won his case again this week.
A judge ruled that he should be reinstated and awarded €250,000 (£21,857) in back pay from the end of his employment, little income from a company he founded in previous years.
“It’s the end of a nightmare,” Muraglia said. “It was for me years of suffering that I spread in my underpants on front pages around the world.”
However, he noted that he would wear his clothes while bumping.
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Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
