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.