Civil servant accused of pocketing £280,000 while holding five full-time posts
Kashim Chowdhury is on trial for allegedly claiming £280,000 by simultaneously holding up to five full-time civil service jobs and repeatedly denying existing government employment.
At a Southwark Crown Court hearing, Kashim Chowdhury faced nine fraud counts for allegedly extracting £280,000 by holding up to five full-time civil service roles at once. Court evidence showed he occupied eight different posts from February 2020 to September 2023, drawing a total of £349,378 from agencies including the Home Office, Department of Health and Social Care and the Department for Business and Trade. Application forms repeatedly listed his prior employer as Tower Hamlets council, yet he answered “no” to questions about existing civil service employment.
He claimed remote work was needed to care for his elderly mother and submitted falsified sick notes, while colleagues noted his inability to complete basic tasks. One manager described his output as “very poor,” and jurors were told his contracted hours summed to 183 per one outlet, far beyond the 168 hours in a week. Chowdhury denies the allegations as the trial continues.
Why it matters
The case highlights vulnerabilities in civil-service recruitment and the potential for large-scale payroll fraud.
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