Investigation launched into absenteeism of 101 Rap Palermo employees: They rang in but didn’t work

Last Updated: October 3, 2023

The prosecutor’s office in Palermo has investigated 101 employees of Rap, the waste collection company, for absenteeism. The carabinieri of the provincial command of Palermo have notified 18 of them the obligation to present themselves to the judicial police. The “badge cheaters” would clock in and then leave without being checked. They are accused of aggravated fraud, false certificates, and embezzlement. The investigation, carried out by the Palermo Piazza Verdi operational unit, was initiated after a complaint from an employee who reported fuel theft from company vehicles. The investigation lasted from May to July 2023. The accused were surveilled and monitored for days. A total of 1385 cases of absenteeism were identified, resulting in an estimated economic loss of nearly 40,000 euros and 2,800 hours of absence for the company. The carabinieri also speak of an established system and collusion among employees through the sharing of time-stamp badges. Additionally, two employees in the company’s logistics-workshop area have been implicated in the illicit withdrawal of fuel from various company vehicles, taking advantage of their direct access to repairs and keys. Recovered stolen diesel fuel has been seized.