Civil servant denies fraud over five public sector jobs

A civil servant accused of fraudulently juggling multiple public sector jobs has told a court he was in a state of panic when applying for new roles. Kashim Chowdhury, 55, faces nine counts of fraud, which he denies. He stated he was 'not thinking straight' when he failed to declare existing employment to the Department of Health.

The prosecution claims that at the height of the alleged deceit, Mr Chowdhury held five full-time positions simultaneously. These roles were with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK Health Security Agency, the Food Standards Agency, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Home Office. He also held positions at the Department for Health and Social Care and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the court heard. In total, he was allegedly contracted to work 183 hours per week, more than the total hours in a seven-day period. Each job provided a full-time salary, with Mr Chowdhury receiving £11,000 in one month during 2023, the jury was told.

Defence cites personal circumstances

Mr Chowdhury's defence team stated that he was overwhelmed by his mother's deteriorating health around May and June 2022. He told the court that these jobs served as his 'lifeline' and a 'distraction' from his personal circumstances. He explained that he had applied for several roles in a 'flurry' and that offers had arrived simultaneously. He claimed to have informed line managers that he did not want these additional positions due to his personal situation and that his priority was caring for his mother.

Prosecutors allege that Mr Chowdhury exploited the work-from-home culture to conceal his multiple employments, even taking sick leave from some employers to manage his workload. He denies acting dishonestly or intending to make any dishonest gain. The trial continues.