'I wasn't thinking straight' says five jobs civil servant

Kashim Chowdhury, a 55-year-old civil servant from east London, has admitted in court to mistakenly believing he was "not thinking straight" when he allegedly misrepresented his employment status to secure multiple public sector jobs. The prosecution claims that at the time of the alleged fraud, Chowdhury was working five full-time jobs, including roles at the Department of Health, the Department for the Environment, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and East London NHS Trust. He is currently on trial for nine counts of fraud.

Chowdhury told the court that he was in a panic when he applied for a job at the Department of Health, as he feared losing his job at the Department for the Environment and was uncertain about his future. He admitted to making mistakes and failing to declare the multiple jobs he held at the time.

The prosecution alleges that Chowdhury exploited the work-from-home culture that began during the Covid-19 pandemic to hide his multiple jobs. He reportedly committed to working 183 hours a week, more than the number of hours in seven days. Chowdhury claimed that he did not want the jobs at the Department of Health, Department for Business and Trade, and the Home Office and had explained his circumstances to his line managers.

He further stated that around May and June 2022, his mother's health deteriorated, overwhelming him and making him desperate for a distraction from his personal life.