Civil servant accused of juggling five government jobs admits his contracted 183-hour week was 'impossible'

Kashim Chowdhury, 55, of east London, allegedly collected more than £284,000 by holding eight overlapping public sector roles between 2020 and 2023 — a period during which he took on a Home Office position while signed off sick from three other posts. His contracted hours across all jobs totalled 183 per week; a week contains only 168 hours. Chowdhury is contesting nine counts of fraud at Southwark Crown Court and has said he was 'surprised' to be charged.

'I was like a robot,' Chowdhury told jurors, insisting he was never dishonest.

His roles spanned Defra, the Food Standards Agency, Tower Hamlets Council and an NHS trust.