Civil servant found guilty of fraud after holding five secret jobs

A 56-year-old man has been found guilty of nine counts of fraud after it was revealed he held multiple public sector roles simultaneously. Kashim Chowdhury, a civil servant based in east London, faced a jury trial for his actions, which involved securing several government positions that overlapped during the spring of 2023. The case highlights the complexities surrounding the role of a civil servant in modern administration.

Between 2020 and 2023, Chowdhury held eight full-time government roles, earning a total of £350,000. During the spring of 2023, he was concurrently employed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Health and Social Care, the UK Health Security Agency, the Department for Business and Trade, the Food Standards Agency, and the Home Office. Prosecutors noted that his contractual obligations during this period amounted to 183 hours per week.

A civil servant was convicted of nine fraud charges for holding multiple secret full-time government roles simultaneously.

Deception and performance

The court heard that Chowdhury secured these positions by providing inaccurate information on application forms and failing to disclose his existing employment status. To maintain his schedule, he claimed to be working from home while caring for his mother, who was suffering from terminal cancer. Managers reported significant performance issues, noting that Chowdhury often kept his camera off during video calls, citing technical difficulties. One manager at the UK Health Security Agency testified that Chowdhury appeared to use makeup to simulate signs of illness during a virtual meeting intended to discuss his return to work.

Chowdhury argued that his actions were driven by trauma and a fear of financial instability following a previous redundancy. However, the prosecution described his conduct as a deliberate and sustained effort to exploit the system. The jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict for eight counts of fraud by false representation and one count of fraud by failure to disclose. The judge has denied bail, citing the gravity of the offenses, and warned that a significant custodial sentence is expected.

Why it matters

This case demonstrates a major breach of public trust and highlights vulnerabilities in government hiring and oversight processes. By abusing his position, Chowdhury diverted substantial taxpayer funds and undermined the integrity of the public sector. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has stated it intends to pursue all available legal avenues to recover the proceeds of his criminal activity.