from the files of the "Believe it or not", department

Bank supervisor 'not to blame', as clerk falls asleep at desk with finger on keyboard, resulting in €222,222,222.22 bank transfer

A German court has ruled that a bank supervisor was unfairly dismissed for failing to double check a €222,222,222.22 transaction made when a clerk fell asleep with his finger on a keyboard.

The 48-year-old was fired for failing to investigate the accidental multi-million transfer, which occurred when a junior clerk started dozing at his desk with a finger on the number two key while attempting a transfer of just €64.20.

Judges at Hesse labour court ruled, however, that failing to spot the error and approving the transaction was not worthy of dismissal.

The judges instead decided that the supervisor, who had been an employee at the company since 1986,  should only have been reprimanded as she had already checked 812 transactions that day, allowing just a couple of seconds to check each one for irregularities and errors.

The judges ruled that it was clear there had been no malicious intent on the supervisor’s behalf, saying she should have received a warning.

As a result, they ordered the bank to reinstate the supervisor, saying her work contract could not be terminated.

Fortunately for the company, the huge transaction was spotted by a third employee later in the day and corrected before any money was exchanged.