Official in Rome: Years of fraud – arrest in a café!

Official in Rome: Years of fraud – arrest in a café!

What a public service story! In a small community near Rome, a 55-year-old civil servant who spent his working days on personal errands for years was arrested. He reported to work at 7 a.m., but instead of carrying out his duties, he regularly left the town hall and used the time to visit a café, go shopping or go for fun walks. The investigations by the financial police have now uncovered his “Dolce Vita” mentality, which is not only uncollegial but also extremely illegal. After all, we are talking about working time fraud, an offense that is taken just as seriously in the public sector as it is in the private sector.

The financial police observed the officer over a longer period of time and were able to document the fraudulent actions using surveillance camera recordings. In these photos you can see how he can often be found in the bar, filling up his car, withdrawing money or simply wasting time. He left his colleagues in the dark throughout the day that he was not fulfilling his work duties, and then signed off again in the afternoon - after a clock-in that was nothing but a farce. As OZ Online reports, the official is now threatened with a trial and the risk of being fired.

The legal consequences of working time fraud

What is actually behind it when we talk about working time fraud? This legal definition refers to the intentional falsification or manipulation of working time records, which is tantamount to deception about the actual work performed. Typical cases include not only leaving work early or taking excessively long breaks, but also clocking in and out with colleagues and unauthorized smoking breaks. Such violations can lead to a warning or even immediate dismissal, especially if the employer no longer wants to be a spectator in the duel between decency and fraud. According to Hallermann, the legal consequences are far-reaching and can also affect criminal law if the employer files a criminal complaint.

In the public sector, working time fraud is classified as a serious official offense, which can result in potentially drastic measures. In the case of civil servants, disciplinary proceedings may occur, which may even lead to removal from service. As can be read on the platform for civil service law, the measure and severity of the violation are always assessed individually. The [Civil Service Law Hannover](https:// civil service law-hannover.de/arbeitszeitbetrug-im-offentlichen-dienst/) offers a clear overview of possible disciplinary measures: from a simple reprimand to a warning to immediate dismissal in particularly serious cases.

The story of the civil servant in the province of Sabina is not only an example of personal failure, but also casts a shadow on trust within public institutions. Public sector employees who are confronted with this issue should be aware that their responsibility is particularly high. Working time fraud is certainly not a trivial offense, and the case shows that surveillance does not sleep in the public sector either. We remain curious to see how the judiciary will decide in this case and what measures will ultimately be taken against the officer!