Civil servant on trial for fraudulently working five government jobs

Summarised from 3 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 21 Oct, 19:39 · Archive

Kashim Chowdhury, 55, is accused of earning £349,378 by holding eight overlapping jobs across government departments between February 2020 and September 2023.

Kashim Chowdhury, 55, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court accused of nine counts of fraud. The prosecution alleges that between February 2020 and September 2023, he fraudulently secured eight overlapping jobs across government departments and public bodies, earning a total of £349,378.

At the peak of his employment, Chowdhury allegedly held five full-time positions simultaneously with the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs, UK Health Security Agency, Food Standards Agency, Department for Business and Trade and Home Office. He was contracted to work 183 hours per week—more than the number of hours in seven days. In April 2023 alone, he received £11,015.62 in take-home wages from five employers, followed by £8,745.88 in May.

The prosecution alleges Chowdhury repeatedly lied on job application forms, answering 'no' when asked if he already worked for the government. He allegedly told bosses he needed to work remotely to care for his elderly mother and used sick notes to manage his workload. Witnesses told the court he frequently failed to attend virtual meetings and appeared out of his depth when he did work, while unaware he held other full-time positions. He allegedly even applied white make-up to convince employers he was ill.

Giving evidence, Chowdhury admitted he had failed to complete employment forms accurately but denied acting dishonestly or intending to defraud anyone. He told the jury he was 'overwhelmed and stressed' and motivated by panic at losing his livelihood. He said work was a 'distraction' from caring for his mother, whose health deteriorated around May 2022. He has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, triggered in 2021.

The BBC reports that Chowdhury claimed some of his managers at Department for Environment and Rural Affairs, Tower Hamlets, East London NHS Trust and Department for Health and Social Care knew he had other jobs. The prosecution's case suggests these employers were unaware of his multiple roles.

How it is being reported

• Civil servant accused of juggling five government jobs says work was his ‘distraction' from caring for ailing motherProsecutors say Chowdhury ‘exploited’ the work-from-home culture which began during the Covid-19 pandemic to hide his multiple jobsThe Independent · 21 Oct, 17:13
• Civil servant who earned £280K by working FIVE jobs at same time tells court he failed to disclose roles 'because he was suffering with stress'Kashim Chowdhury, 55, is accused of exploiting the post-Covid work-from-home culture to take on multiple roles from unwitting departments for the government.Daily Mail · 21 Oct, 14:52
• Civil servant admits he 'made mistakes' juggling five government jobsKashim Chowdhury was contracted for 183 hours a week, more than the number of hours in seven days.BBC Business · 21 Oct, 13:17
• Civil servant accused of juggling five full-time government jobs took home more than £11,000 in ONE month, court toldKashim Chowdhury, 55, is accused of exploiting the post-Covid work-from-home culture to rack up roles with various unwitting departments for the government.Daily Mail · 20 Oct, 15:15
• Civil servant who fraudulently racked up £280,000 remotely working several full-time jobs answered 'no' when asked if he already worked for the government, court toldKashim Chowdhury, 55, allegedly lied multiple times to secure overlapping jobs with organisations including the Home Office and the Department of Health and Social Care.Daily Mail · 19 Oct, 21:07

In this story: Kashim Chowdhury · Southwark Crown Court · Home Office · Department of Health and Social Care · Food Standards Agency · Department for Business and Trade · Tower Hamlets · Whitechapel

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log