(NEWSER) – A 69-year-old Spanish man was fined this week after officials discovered he hadn't shown up to work for at least six years, the Guardian reports.
Ironically, the civil servant was discovered only when the deputy mayor attempted to give him an award for 20 years of "loyal and dedicated" service in 2010. “I thought, where is this man?" the Guardianquotes the deputy mayor. "Is he still there? Has he retired? Has he died?” According to the Independent, a legal case was launched against the man — Joaquín García — that year.
It finally wrapped up this week, with García, who retired in 2011, losing an appeal and being issued a fine of approximately $30,000, the Times reports. That's the equivalent of one year's salary after taxes, and was the most that could legally be reclaimed.
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