A British man was contracted to work 183 hours a week across five government jobs
Prosecutors say he earned $380,000 while working from home, and hid the overlap with sick notes.
Global News Podcast · US and European websites go offline over security concernsIn court on Wednesday, Kashim Chowdhury admitted he had made mistakes. He insisted he was not a criminal.
The period at issue was the spring of 2023. The pandemic lockdowns were over, but Chowdhury was still working entirely from home. During those months, prosecutors say, he held five government posts concurrently.
He was being paid five full-time salaries. Prosecutors allege the total was worth $380,000 earned fraudulently. He was contracted to work 183 hours a week, more than the 168 hours in a full week.
Zoe Conway, an employment correspondent, reported the five jobs were the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the UK Health Security Agency, the Food Standards Agency, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Home Office.
Prosecutors say he managed it while working fully remotely and by submitting sick notes.
In his defence, Chowdhury said he had made a mistake but did not believe there was criminal intent. He said he felt overwhelmed and under strain. He said his mother was dying during part of this period and he was the only person looking after her, and that he lives with recurring post-traumatic stress disorder. He said the work had kept him going.
In autumn 2023 his managers complained about his performance, and he left the jobs. Fraud investigators caught up with him in 2024. He now faces nine counts of fraud, and he denies acting dishonestly.
Questions people ask
Is it actually possible to work 183 hours in a week?
A standard full-time week in Britain is usually 35 to 40 hours, and there are only 168 hours in a seven-day week. A 183-hour contract would require working more than 26 hours every single day, with no time for sleep, which is physically impossible.
What punishment could he face if convicted?
In Britain, fraud by false representation and related offenses can carry up to 10 years in prison under the Fraud Act 2006, though sentences depend on the amount involved, planning, and personal circumstances. Most first-time, nonviolent fraud cases result in much shorter sentences, suspended sentences, or repayment orders.
How do employers normally catch someone holding several jobs at once?
Britain expanded background and right-to-work checks, payroll data sharing, and counterfraud reviews after several pandemic-era cases of multiple jobholding. Government departments now cross-check national insurance records and staff attendance more routinely, though remote roles remain harder to monitor than office roles.