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Wed, 21 Oct 2026

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 Civil servant admits he 'made mistakes' juggling five government jobs

Kashim Chowdhury was contracted for 183 hours a week, more than the number of hours in seven days.
Kashim Chowdhury, a 55-year-old civil servant from east London, has been accused of fraudulently earning over £284,000 by holding multiple full-time public sector jobs simultaneously. He denies the allegations and claims he was overwhelmed and stressed due to his mother's declining health, which led him to work long hours in five separate roles. According to prosecutors, Chowdhury failed to disclose his other employment to his managers, but he insists some of them were aware of his situation. At the height of the alleged deceit, he worked 183 hours a week across five jobs with full-time salaries, including at the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, East London NHS Trust, and the Home Office. Chowdhury claims that working multiple jobs was a "lifeline" during this time, allowing him to cope with his mother's illness. However, his line managers have testified that he performed poorly in his roles, often submitting subpar work or failing to meet deadlines. Prosecutors also allege that Chowdhury used sick notes from his doctor as part of the cover-up, claiming he was suffering from anxiety and depressive disorder, but not providing such notes to all his employers. The prosecution argues that this demonstrates the dishonesty involved in the case. The trial continues, with Chowdhury facing nine counts of fraud.