Court hears how UK civil servant faked illness to juggle five jobs

A British civil servant has gone on trial accused of earning almost £350,000 by simultaneously holding five full-time public sector jobs and allegedly using make-up to appear ill during a video call with his manager.

Kashim Chowdhury, 55, from east London, is facing nine counts of fraud over alleged activities between February 2020 and September 2023. He denies the charges, as well as acting dishonestly or intending to make a dishonest gain.

Southwark Crown Court heard that Chowdhury allegedly held overlapping positions at Tower Hamlets Council, the Home Office, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the UK Health Security Agency and the Department of Health and Social Care.

Prosecutors alleged that he obtained the positions by making false representations about his employment status while applying for the jobs.

The court was told that the alleged fraud came to light after the National Fraud Initiative alerted Defra to the matter.

One of the incidents highlighted during the trial involved a video meeting arranged in 2023 by Aleesha Adams, Chowdhury’s manager at the UK Health Security Agency, to discuss his sick leave.

Adams alleged that Chowdhury wore white make-up during the Microsoft Teams call to make himself appear unwell. According to the prosecution, the make-up began separating on his forehead during the meeting, revealing his natural skin underneath.

Lucy Organ, prosecuting, told the court that the incident illustrated the lengths to which the defendant was allegedly prepared to go to deceive his employers.

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The prosecution also argued that Chowdhury had taken advantage of the working-from-home arrangements that expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jurors heard that he had told employers he needed to work remotely to care for his unwell mother. Prosecutors said the combined workload eventually became difficult to manage and that his performance suffered.

The court also heard that Chowdhury had been signed off work from some positions because of what was described as mixed anxiety and a depressive disorder. However, the prosecution said he did not submit the relevant sick note to all his employers.

The case raises questions about oversight of multiple public sector appointments and the monitoring of employees working remotely. However, the allegations have yet to be established in court.

The trial is continuing at Southwark Crown Court. Chowdhury denies the charges against him.

(bbc)