And finally… waste of time

A civil servant at a waste water treatment plant in Spain has been fined after failing to show up for work for at least six years.

A court in Cadiz ruled that Joaquín García had to hand back €27,000 of the wages he earned over six years, according to the El Mundo newspaper.

Proceedings were brought against him in 2010 alleging that he had not worked since 2004 despite continuing to collect his salary.

Mr García insisted he had turned up for work but, finding there was no work to do, spent the time learning about the Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza.

The protracted case ended yesterday when he lost his final appeal.

The €27,000 fine is the largest allowed by law.

He was not fired as he had already retired.

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