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A civil servant stands accused of fraudulently earning over £284,000 by simultaneously holding several public-sector positions. At Southwark Crown Court, Kashim Chowdhury, who faces nine counts of fraud, acknowledged making errors but denied any criminal intent. He explained to the jury that he had been overwhelmed and stressed, experiencing “terror and panic” at the prospect of losing his jobs.
Chowdhury, aged 55 and from east London, revealed during his testimony that he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2015, which was triggered again in 2021. Despite the allegations, he maintains that he did not act dishonestly. He also claimed that some of his employers were aware he held multiple roles concurrently. Specifically, he mentioned that managers and staff at the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, East London NHS Trust, and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) knew about his other employment.
At the height of the accusations, Chowdhury was employed across five full-time public sector posts simultaneously, receiving full-time salaries from each. In spring 2023, those roles were with Defra, the UK Health Security Agency, the Food Standards Agency, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Home Office. The prosecution highlighted that he was contracted for 183 hours per week—a number exceeding the total hours in a week. Records show he earned approximately £11,000 for one month’s work in 2023.
The prosecution contends that Chowdhury concealed his overlapping employment by working exclusively remotely, while telling employers he was the sole carer for his elderly mother—a situation they claim he “exploited.” Multiple line managers have testified that his job performance was substandard. Abigail Mounde, his former manager at the Department for Business and Trade, described his work as often late or below expected standards. When challenged about these criticisms, Chowdhury firmly denied them, stating, “I reject them all.”
Further, the prosecution alleges that Chowdhury used sick notes dishonestly to cover his activities. He reportedly provided medical certificates stating mixed anxiety and depressive disorder to some employers while withholding them from others, which the prosecution argues underscores the deceptive nature of his actions. At the UK Health Security Agency, his line manager Aleesha Adams arranged a video call in May 2023 to support his return to work after an absence. She testified she was taken aback when he logged on wearing white face makeup, which gradually rubbed off to reveal darker skin beneath. Prosecuting barrister Lucy Organ commented that this incident “demonstrates quite how far the defendant was willing to go in his deceit.” The trial is ongoing
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