A civil servant, Kashim Chowdhury, 55, is accused of earning over £280,000 by simultaneously holding five government jobs. During a trial at Southwark Crown Court, it was revealed that Chowdhury was made a permanent employee despite concerns regarding his performance. Testimony from his line manager at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Dan McCartney, indicated that Chowdhury required constant supervision and did not work independently.
Chowdhury allegedly used white make-up to appear unwell during an online meeting after concerns about his work were raised. He reportedly held five full-time government roles, which would require him to work 183 hours a week, exceeding the total hours available in a week. Between February 2020 and September 2023, he is said to have secured eight jobs, earning a total of £349,378 before the alleged fraud was discovered.
Chowdhury is accused of dishonestly receiving £284,613 while working across various government departments, including the Food Standards Agency, the Home Office, and the Department for Business and Trade. McCartney expressed that Chowdhury's performance warranted a meeting, but he was made permanent under a policy for employees on fixed-term contracts who were not subject to formal performance measures. Chowdhury denies nine counts of fraud.