(ANSA) -Sanremo, January 19 - The city hall of Sanremo in northwestern Italy has fired four employees caught up in a police probe into alleged absenteeism launched last year. Investigations had shown that many civil servants working for the council were absent even when they were registered at work as they had clocked in. In one case a municipal policeman clocked in in his underpants, while another official went rowing during office hours. Finance police arrested 35 people in October in relation to the long-running investigation. The suspects face various charges including fraud against the state, embezzlement and forgery of legal documents. Sanremo Mayor Alberto Biancheri told ANSA on Tuesday that measures to terminate four contracts had begun. "There will be more dismissals in coming days," he said. Premier Matteo Renzi last week vowed to come down "with an iron fist" on the phenomenon. He said civil servants and other public-sector workers who clocked in fraudulently to then go about their business would be fired "within 48 hours". Trade unions are opposed to snap dismissals for such cases.