British civil servant held five full-time jobs and received five salaries

Five jobs at once

In the UK, a court has found 56-year-old civil servant Kashim Chowdhury guilty. For several years he simultaneously worked at multiple government institutions and received a full salary from each of them. According to Sky News, over three and a half years the man earned nearly £350,000, and the court found him guilty on nine counts of fraud.

How the scheme worked

Chowdhury began his career in February 2020 at a London local council. A year later, he took an additional job at the Department for Environment without leaving his previous position, and gradually increased the number of employers. By May 2023 he was officially listed in five full-time positions, having worked at eight government organisations in total over that period.

Remote work, sick leave and makeup

Remote working, which became commonplace during the pandemic, helped him hide such a workload. When juggling duties became too difficult, the man would take sick leave at one job while continuing to work at another. According to Sky News, on one occasion he covered his face with white makeup before a video call with his boss to look ill — but left his neck untouched, and during the conversation the makeup on his forehead began to crack.

How the deception was exposed and what comes next

The quality of Chowdhury's work deteriorated noticeably over time, and the deception came to light after a check of government databases: it showed that he was simultaneously registered at two agencies. The sentence will be handed down on 29 January — the man faces three to six years in prison. The prosecution also intends to recover the money he obtained illegally.