Cop who clocked on in his Y-fronts trousers €250,000: Sacked Italian policeman who became an international laughing stock wins his job back – and huge lump sum in back pay

A sacked Italian police officer who became an international laughing stock for working in his Y-fronts has been given his job back – and a huge lump sum in back pay.

Alberto Muraglia, 61, from Sanremo, became embroiled in a corruption investigation in 2015 after he was pictured stamping his time card wearing only his underwear and a T-shirt.

The portly officer was captured on CCTV in 2014 punching the card at his town hall, where he lived with his family near his workplace.

After clocking in, he went back upstairs to his apartment to put on his uniform before returning to the office for his shift.

As a result of the video captured on police security cameras, Muraglia was charged with defrauding the state of public funds – and exposed himself to years of public ridicule.

Alberto Muraglia was pictured stamping his time card at his town hall, where he lived with his family near his workplace

Alberto Muraglia was acquitted by an Italian court of defrauding public funds

As CCTV footage made headlines, the police officer became a national example of the country’s struggle against workers in municipal offices and government services who are often absent.

The investigation in Sanremo found that a town hall employee was clocking in and spending the day kayaking, while others were shopping or with friends.

When Muraglia’s role ended, a court acquitted him in 2020 of charges of defrauding the state of public funds.

It ruled that dressing for work is part of an employee’s official duties.

The judge ruled that Muraglia was within his right to clock in and then go home to get dressed.

Muraglia was caught on police CCTV and then went back upstairs to his apartment to put on his uniform before returning to the office for his shift.

Muraglia believed at the time that the verdict was vindication after being ridiculed by the Italian press.

However, the city 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 reinstated and given back wages of €250,000 (£21,857), dating from when his role ended, and income in the intervening years from a business he set up.

“It’s the end of a nightmare,” Muraglia said. “It’s been years of suffering for me, splashed across front pages all over the world in my underpants.”

However, he noted that he would wear his clothes to clock in.