In the United Kingdom, 56-year-old civil servant Kashim Chowdhury has been found guilty on nine counts of fraud. He simultaneously held several full-time government posts and concealed this from his employers. In total, the man fraudulently obtained more than £284,000 (around $381,000) of public funds, reports the BBC.
From 2020 to 2023, Chowdhury held eight posts in the public sector, and in the spring of 2023 he was working in five of them at the same time. His employers included the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Department of Health and Social Care, the Home Office and government agencies.
At the peak, the combined length of the working week under his employment contracts reached 183 hours — more than seven days.
Chowdhury worked fully remotely, which he had been permitted to do in order to care for his sick mother.
When applying for jobs, the man provided false information about his employment and then concealed his work in other government bodies from his employers.
The jury unanimously found Chowdhury guilty after seven hours of deliberation. In court, he attributed his actions to post-traumatic stress disorder and a fear of losing his livelihood.
An episode involving a video call with a manager attracted particular attention. During the call, Chowdhury tried to feign illness using white make-up. According to his manager, she noticed that he was sweating, which caused the make-up to start rubbing off and darkening around his neck.
The prosecution described the defendant's actions as 'systematic and deliberate dishonesty'. The Department for Environment said it would seek to recover the money paid to him. The judge warned Chowdhury of a 'very severe prison sentence' and refused him bail.
