Massa - A now 68-year-old man from Tuscany led a brazen double life: He was actually employed as a home care assistant by the local health authority (Asl). But instead of caring for sick people at home, the nurse pursued a secret second job.
Part-time job during working hours
The scam was uncovered back in 2015. The man was caught in a supermarket sorting goods and taking care of the accounts - even though he was officially clocked in at his actual job. As it turned out, this was not an isolated incident. To avoid attracting attention, he repeatedly asked colleagues to cover for him during his shifts.
Nevertheless, his absences did not go unnoticed. Family members of patients complained to the health authorities about massive delays or the complete absence of the nurse. One relative is quoted in the court files: „My mother needed help at home. The Asl was supposed to send someone, but the caregiver didn't always show up.“
High damages after conviction
The man was prosecuted for fraud and embezzlement for his behavior. In 2022, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison at the court in Massa. This sentence was confirmed by the Court of Cassation on May 29, 2024.
The Court of Audit has now also ruled on the financial consequences: The unfaithful employee must pay around 70,000 euros in damages to the health authority, plus interest and legal fees. The penalty is made up of financial and reputational damage. To make matters worse, he had even used the health authority's company car to travel to his illegal part-time job at the supermarket.
