chilean worker overpaid: Worker accidentally paid 330x salary, and the most surprising thing – he gets to keep every penny
At first, the worker agreed to return the extra money after realizing that it was a mistake. Aimed to cooperate with the employer. However, he resigned only days later and stopped responding completely to calls or e -mails.
The company quickly filed a criminal complaint, claiming that the worker was theft. According to the Chilean laws, this accusation could be sentenced to a fine or imprisonment of up to 540 days, which could bring a simple payroll error to a legal war.
The court thoroughly reviewed the case considering whether the worker was acting to steal. Judges have found that the money was accidentally taken without any manipulation or injustice and that the case should be considered as a civilian issue.
Three years later, the judge decided in favor of the employee and allowed him to maintain the quantity of excess excessively. The court stressed that this unusual scenario did not constitute a criminal theft in accordance with the law.
The company announced its plans to object to the decision, but the decision has already attracted a lot of attention. It emphasizes how legal interpretations can change and surprising results that may arise from simple mistakes.
How did this worker’s salary reach 330 times?
It all started as a simple payroll error. A Chilean Office Assistant in a Food Company was accidentally paid to 330 times its regular monthly salary. Instead of buying the usual 500,000 pesoyu (about $ 545), he bought 165 million peso – about $ 180,000. The worker says he was stunned when he sees the deposit in his account. For most people, this seemed to be a dream, but the situation was complex. Excessive payment took place due to the internal payroll error that the company later discovered.
The company immediately contacted the worker and asked for money. Initially, he agreed to return the excess amount. However, when he resigned, things increased rapidly and stopped responding to calls and calls from his employer.
What did the company do when they noticed the error?
When the company discovered the big payment, they did not wait. They accused the worker of theft and filed a guilty complaint. In Chile, theft charges may carry a fine and even the prison time, so it was a serious accusation.
The company argued that the worker had no right to keep the money and that it was theft to keep it without returning. They asked the courts to return the full amount and to order criminal penalties.
This legal step meant that the case could become a long and complex war. The company was prepared to prove that more payment was a mistake, but the worker had already resigned and refused to cooperate.
How did the legal war come about?
The case went to court and took three years. The defense of the worker argued that there was no criminal theft while accidentally getting the money. Instead, it was a “unauthorized collection” that was considered a civilian issue in Chile.
A judge carefully reviewed the case. The court looked at the facts: the worker did not manipulate the payroll system or forced the company to pay extra to him. The money ended in his account due to an internal error.
After months of hearings and legal arguments, the court decided in favor of the worker. Legally, it was allowed to maintain the entire amount. The decision stressed that this is not a criminal offense, but a civilian issue.
Why is this decision so surprising?
Most people expect them to return it if a worker is paid more than a large amount. The laws in many countries detect accidental payments as money to be returned.
In this case, the court saw jobs differently. The judge decided that he did not legally had to pay back the money because the worker did not steal. This carries the case unusual and news value.
The decision also emphasizes how the laws can vary largely according to local judicial powers. What can be considered as theft in one country can be seen as a civilian issue in the other.
What does this mean to the company?
The company has the right to object to the decision. They can take the case to a higher court to try to save the funds. However, objections may take years and there is no guarantee that the result will change.
In the meantime, the company should discuss the attention of the financial loss and public opinion with such an unusual case. A stimulating story of businesses to ensure that the payroll systems are correct and double control.
This event can also push companies to review their internal controls to prevent similar errors in the future. Even a small error in the payroll can quickly turn into a major legal headache.
What are the wider legal inferences?
This case raises questions about how accidental payments are legally handled. It shows that the courts can distinguish between criminal and legal issues according to intention and conditions.
Legal experts suggest that this may be a precedent for similar cases in Chile and elsewhere. Employers should now consider the possibility that workers who are over -paid will not always have to return money.
As a reliable and reliable news sourceFor workers, the decision can provide assurance that errors are not automatically considered as a crime, especially without malicious intention.
