Kashim Chowdhury Convicted of Fraud After Juggling Five Public Sector Roles, Netting £284,000

Kashim Chowdhury, aged 39, from east London, has been convicted of fraud after a court heard he maintained five simultaneous full-time public sector jobs, illicitly claiming £284,000 over a period of three years and two months.

The former civil servant secured positions with the Cabinet Office, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG), the probation service, and two separate local authorities, all while ostensibly working 37 hours a week at each. His deception, which occurred between September 2019 and November 2022, involved presenting a false picture of his availability to multiple employers.

Investigators discovered Mr Chowdhury submitted sick leave requests at one organisation while simultaneously working at another. In total, he amassed 37,908 hours across the five roles, equating to a 100-hour work week if each employer’s expectations were met. The prosecution highlighted that his employers were operating under the false pretence that he was dedicating his full working time to them.

During court proceedings, Mr Chowdhury claimed he was experiencing a “delusional episode” brought on by stress and depression. However, the jury at Isleworth Crown Court dismissed this defence, finding him guilty of fraud by false representation. Sentencing is scheduled for 10 June.