Kashim Chowdhury convicted over overlapping public-sector jobs

A Southwark Crown Court jury convicted Kashim Chowdhury of nine fraud counts after finding he concealed overlapping public-sector jobs, including five full-time posts held at the same time in spring 2023. The jury deliberated for about seven hours before finding him guilty of eight counts of fraud by false representation and one count of fraud by failure to disclose.

Court evidence showed Chowdhury was contracted to work 183 hours a week at the height of the overlapping employment, more than the 168 hours in a week. Prosecutors said he had misrepresented or failed to disclose his existing employment when applying for posts and continued concealing other jobs after being hired.

Between 2020 and 2023, Chowdhury earned about £350,000 across eight public-sector employers or roles, according to evidence described in court reports. More than £280,000 was gross pay for months in which he held overlapping full-time jobs. The figures refer to different scopes: the overall reported earnings and the pay associated with overlapping-job months.

The roles included positions at Tower Hamlets Council, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Health and Social...