UK civil servant convicted of fraud for secretly juggling five government jobs

A UK court has found civil servant Kashim Chowdhury guilty of fraud for secretly holding up to five government jobs at once and earning more than £284,000 in public money.

A British civil servant, Kashim Chowdhury, has been found guilty of nine counts of fraud after secretly holding multiple full-time government jobs and earning more than £284,000 in taxpayers’ money, Sahara Reporters reports.

Chowdhury, 56, from east London, held five overlapping government positions in spring 2023, despite being contracted to work 183 hours a week.

The court heard that between 2020 and 2023, he held eight full-time public sector jobs at different times, earning about £350,000 in total. His employers included the Home Office, Defra and the UK Health Security Agency.

Prosecutors said he lied on his job applications and secured remote work by claiming he was caring for his mother, who had dementia.

A UK Health Security Agency manager alleged that Chowdhury wore white make-up during a video meeting to appear ill.

Chowdhury told the court he took on multiple jobs out of fear of losing his livelihood. He was identified in 2024 through the government’s National Fraud Initiative.