Civil Servant Admits Mistakes in Juggling Five Government Jobs

Kashim Chowdhury, a civil servant accused of fraudulently earning more than £284,000 by holding multiple public-sector jobs, told Southwark Crown Court that he made mistakes but does not believe there was criminal intent. The 55-year-old denies nine counts of fraud, asserting he did not act dishonestly or intend to make a dishonest gain.

Chowdhury, who is from east London, stated he was overwhelmed and stressed, experiencing terror and panic at the prospect of losing his livelihood. He was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2015, which he says was triggered in 2021. The prosecution alleges Chowdhury failed to disclose his other full-time employments to his employers. However, Chowdhury testified that some of his managers were aware of his other roles. He claimed his managers at the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, East London NHS Trust, and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) knew he held additional jobs.

At the peak of the alleged deception, Chowdhury held five full-time jobs concurrently, working for Defra, the UK Health Security Agency, the Food Standards Agency, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Home Office in the spring of 2023. The jury was informed that he was contracted to work 183 hours per week during this period, exceeding the total hours available in a seven-day week. Each position offered a full-time salary, with Chowdhury reportedly earning £11,000 in a single month in 2023.

The prosecution contends that Chowdhury exploited his ability to work remotely, using the excuse that he was the sole caregiver for his elderly mother to conceal his overlapping employment. Several of Chowdhury's former line managers testified in court, describing his performance as poor. Abigail Mounde, a former manager at the Department for Business and Trade, stated that basic tasks assigned to Chowdhury were often completed late or below expected standards.

Investigators also allege that Chowdhury used sick notes as part of his cover-up. While he informed some employers he was unfit for work due to anxiety and depression, he did not provide sick notes to others, which the prosecution argues highlights the dishonesty involved. In May 2023, a video call arranged by his manager at the Health Security Agency, Aleesha Adams, to facilitate his return to work took an unusual turn. Adams recounted her surprise when Chowdhury appeared to be wearing white makeup, as his name suggested he would be of Asian ethnicity with darker skin. As the call progressed, the makeup reportedly began to rub off his forehead due to sweating, revealing darker skin underneath and on his neck. The prosecuting barrister described this incident as demonstrating the extent of Chowdhury's alleged deceit.