Alberto Muraglia was wearing only a pair of Y-fronts and a T-shirt because his flat was above his office in a council building in the town of San Remo.

The covertly filmed footage of the officer signing in has become symbolic of Italy’s problem with absenteeism. Its public administration abounds with “fannulloni”, slackers, who fail to turn up for work.

On some occasions Mr Muraglia could not even be bothered to get out of bed and sent his wife or daughter to clock in for him. But he has now been fired, along with dozens of other employees who clocked in before heading to the beach or shops.

However, he has vowed to appeal the decision and has even enlisted the help of Albert II, King of the Belgians, who abdicated in 2013. Mr Muraglia worked as a summer deckhand-cum-cook on the king’s yacht.

The former king emailed Mr Muraglia to ask him about what happened.

“He said that he would continue to have faith in me,” said Mr Muraglia.

“I’ll admit, I was a bit sloppy. I made a mistake, but I swear I was on duty nonetheless.

“My apartment, where I live with my family, is in the same building as my office and the timecard machine.

“When I punched my time card in my underwear I had no idea that I would expose myself and the council to such a bad image.”

“I will pay for this, but it should not just be me. My attire was not suitable, I admit. But I didn’t mean to do anything bad. I was the security officer for the building and that’s where I live.”

His lawyer, Alessandro Moroni, said that just because he turned up for work in his underwear did not mean he could not perform his duties.

Mr Moroni said: “One time, dressed in his underpants, he managed to foil a robbery – he ran out into the street, pistol in hand, and arrested the crook.”