A paid Imaam is often absent. Some other Musalli then leads the Salaat.

Answer

The Imaam is guilty of khiyaanat (abuse of amaanat). He is not entitled to payment for the times that he absents himself from the Imaamate. The Musjid's committee should discuss the issue with the Imaam, and inform him that they are obliged by the Shariah to make deductions from his salary for his absence. Someone else who deputizes when the Imaam is absent does not entitle the Imaam to full pay. It is necessary that the Imaam should understand that in terms of the Shariah, morally, theft of time is in the same class as theft of tangible objects.