Employee paid 12 years for no work

Does anybody honestly believe that this could ever EVER happen in the private sector?? I thought not.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - An employee at a Norfolk agency was collecting paychecks and benefits for 12 years without ever showing up for work.

The female employee of the Norfolk Community Services Board, which is funded by taxpayers, was paid $25,000 to $40,000 a year, according to city officials. That means she has raked in $300,000 to $480,000, not including full benefits, over the last 12 years.

"It's a mystery to us," said Mayor Paul Fraim. "I'm horrified. We are all very distressed about this. How could something like this have gone on for so long? There needs to be some accountablilty. We need to get to the bottom of it."