UK Civil Servant Accused Of Defr¥uding Government Of £284,613 By Working Five Full-Time Jobs Simultaneously

UK Civil Servant Accused Of Defr¥uding Government Of £284,613 By Working Five Full-Time Jobs Simultaneously

Kashim Chowdhury, 55, has been accused of defra¥ding the UK government of £284,613 by allegedly working five full-time government jobs at the same time while collecting salaries from multiple departments.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Chowdhury secured eight different jobs between February 2020 and September 2023, earning £349,378 before the alleged fr@ud was uncovered.

He allegedly worked across government departments, including the Food Standards Agency, the Home Office and the Department for Business and Trade, while holding multiple taxpayer-funded positions.

At the height of the alleged scheme, he was reportedly contracted to work 183 hours a week across five full-time roles.

The court heard that his line manager at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Dan McCartney, considered his work performance poor and said he had to tell Chowdhury what to do because he could not work independently.

Despite the concerns, Chowdhury was made a permanent employee under a policy covering fixed-term staff who were not subject to formal performance measures.

The court also heard that he allegedly smeared white make-up on his face to appear unwell during an online meeting after suspicions were raised about his work.

Chowdhury, who earned £52,000 annually at Defra, allegedly told his employers he was struggling because his mother had been diagnosed with c@ncer.

He denies nine counts of fr@ud. The trial is ongoing.