Civil servant says mistakes but denies fraud in trial over five jobs

Defendant says some managers knew, prosecution alleges calculated deceit

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

Updated21 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources3 outlets

A senior civil servant facing nine fraud charges for holding five full-time public sector jobs simultaneously has told a jury he made mistakes but denies criminal intent. Kashim Chowdhury, 55, is accused of earning more than £284,000 by concealing his multiple roles.

Giving evidence at Southwark Crown Court, Chowdhury claimed he was "overwhelmed and stressed" and felt "terror and panic" at the prospect of losing his livelihood. He was diagnosed with PTSD in 2015 and said his symptoms were triggered again in 2021.

The prosecution alleges that at the height of his scheme in spring 2023, Chowdhury was employed by Defra, the Home Office, the Department for Business and Trade, the Food Standards Agency, and the UK Health Security Agency. He was contracted to work 183 hours a week. The court heard managers complained of his poor performance. "Any basic tasks I asked him to do he either did late or not to the standard I would have expected," said Abigail Mounde, a line manager at the Department for Business and Trade.

In one notable incident, a manager at the Health Security Agency, Aleesha Adams, said Chowdhury appeared on a video call wearing white make-up that started to rub off as he sweated. Prosecuting barrister Lucy Organ described the incident as "almost laughable," adding that it demonstrated "how far the defendant was willing to go in his deceit." The court also heard that Chowdhury used sick notes citing anxiety and depressive disorder to excuse his absence from some roles while working full-time for others.

Chowdhury insists he did not act dishonestly, telling the jury that some of his managers at Defra, the NHS, and Tower Hamlets Council were aware he had other jobs. The trial continues.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The case exposes major gaps in how the UK public sector manages and monitors remote workers, raising questions about accountability for taxpayer-funded salaries.
It tests the legal framework for fraud in an era where remote and hybrid work can enable multiple full-time employments.
The verdict could influence future HR policies across government departments.

Background

Kashim Chowdhury's trial at Southwark Crown Court follows years of increasing reliance on remote work in the UK civil service, particularly after the pandemic. The defence has painted the defendant as a man struggling with overwhelming stress and a return of PTSD, whose workload spiralled beyond his control. The prosecution argues that the scale and methodical nature of his deception, including fake sick notes and a physical disguise, points to deliberate fraud carried out over more than two years.

Key Perspectives

Kashim Chowdhury (Defendant): Admits to making mistakes but strongly denies dishonesty or criminal intent. He argues he was in a state of "terror and panic" due to stress and PTSD, and that several line managers were aware of his multiple roles. The Prosecution (Crown Prosecution Service): Alleges a calculated scheme of fraud. They argue Chowdhury deliberately exploited his mother's care as a justification for remote work, used false medical excuses, and relied on a disguise to keep his overlapping roles secret. Line Managers (Prosecution Witnesses): Testified to a pattern of poor performance and missed deadlines, contradicting the idea that he was competently managing the workload. The "make-up incident" is presented by the prosecution as clear evidence of physical deception.

What to Watch

The jury's verdict on the nine counts of fraud, which will determine if his actions are judged as crime or catastrophic mismanagement.
Potential government reviews into how civil servants' contracts and working hours are monitored across different departments.
The outcome of the trial's final arguments, where the prosecution will challenge the defence's claim of managerial awareness.

Sources

Civil servant admits he 'made mistakes' juggling five government jobs · BBC London
Civil servant admits he 'made mistakes' juggling five government jobs · BBC News
Civil servant admits he 'made mistakes' juggling five government jobs · BBC News

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 5 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedChowdhury denies criminal intent in the trial over five jobs.BBC News: “He denies acting dishonestly or intending to make a dishonest gain.”
Partly supportedThe prosecution alleges calculated deceit.BBC News: “The prosecution said this ''underlines the dishonesty involved in the whole affair''.”
Partly supportedChowdhury is accused of earning more than £284,000 by concealing multiple public-sector jobs.BBC News: “The civil servant accused of fraudulently earning more than £284,000 by juggling multiple public-sector jobs”
SupportedChowdhury told the jury he was “overwhelmed and stressed” and felt “terror and panic” at the thought of losing his livelihood.BBC News: “Kashim Chowdhury told the jury he had made mistakes because he was ''overwhelmed and stressed'' and had felt ''terror and panic'' at the thought of losing his livelihood.”
SupportedChowdhury was diagnosed with PTSD in 2015 and said it was triggered again in 2021.BBC News: “He told the jury he had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder in 2015 and that it had been triggered in 2021.”
SupportedThe prosecution alleges Chowdhury held five full-time public-sector jobs in spring 2023.BBC News: “In the spring of 2023, he was employed by Defra, the UK Health Security Agency, the Food Standards Agency, the Department for Business and Trade and the Home Office.”
SupportedChowdhury was contracted to work 183 hours a week.BBC News: “The jury was told that throughout this period he was contracted to work 183 hours a week”
SupportedAbigail Mounde said, “Any basic tasks I asked him to do he either did late or not to the standard I would have expected.”BBC News: “Abigail Mounde, who was Chowdhury's line manager at the Department for Business and Trade told the court: ''Any basic tasks I asked him to do he either did late or not to the standard I would have expected.''”
Partly supportedLucy Organ said the incident demonstrated “how far the defendant was willing to go in his deceit.”BBC News: “Prosecuting barrister Lucy Organ told the court: ''This almost laughable incident demonstrates quite how far the defendant was willing to go in his deceit.''”
Partly supportedChowdhury used sick notes citing anxiety and depressive disorder to excuse absences from some jobs while working full-time for others.BBC News: “The court was told that while he was telling some employers he was sick and unfit to work because of ''mixed anxiety and depressive disorder'' he was not giving sick notes to other employers.”
Partly supportedChowdhury said managers at Defra, the NHS and Tower Hamlets Council knew he had other jobs.BBC News: “His managers at Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra), the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, East London NHS Trust and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) all knew he had other jobs.”