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Tower Hamlets rehired fraud suspect despite earlier arrest, whistleblower says
Kashim Chowdhury was convicted of nine counts of fraud after holding up to five full-time public sector jobs at once, in a scheme prosecutors said was worth more than £280,000. A whistleblower says Tower Hamlets Council rehired him in 2024, despite his earlier departure after an arrest on suspicion of fraud, and considered him for promotion even after he was charged.
The former colleague said Chowdhury returned on a fixed-term contract, later became permanent on a salary of about £55,000, and was kept on paid suspension before being dismissed. The trial heard that he used sick leave and annual leave to manage his workload and worked from home; questions are now being raised about how recruitment and vetting checks failed to identify his concurrent jobs. Chowdhury, 56, has been remanded in custody and faces sentencing.
In short
- Chowdhury was convicted of nine fraud counts.
- Prosecutors said the scheme was worth more than £280,000.
- A whistleblower says Tower Hamlets rehired him and considered promotion.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The account, if accurate, raises a serious case that the council’s recruitment and oversight failed: a prior arrest, later charge and questions about concurrent public-sector jobs called for careful checks before rehiring or considering promotion. Public bodies have a duty to protect public funds and maintain confidence, and the reported paid suspension and eventual dismissal invite scrutiny of whether concerns were handled promptly and consistently.
The case against
An arrest or charge is not proof of guilt, and fair employment decisions should distinguish allegations from established facts while respecting proper procedures. A fixed-term appointment, later permanent role and paid suspension may have reflected ordinary processes or constraints not described in the account; without the council’s explanation or fuller evidence about what checks were possible at each stage, the report alone cannot establish that staff knowingly overlooked fraud.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Five-job civil servant was ‘re-hired by bosses and lined up for promotion despite fraud suspicions’, whistleblower says”.