A curry house where five illegal immigrants were found working has been banned from selling alcohol and opening late after losing an appeal. Restaurant owner Jamshed Miah must also pay thousands of pounds in court costs after his appeal to keep the licence for the Garden of Gulab in East Reading failed.
The appeal against Reading Borough Council's decision to revoke the premises licence for the restaurant, was heard at Reading Magistrates' Court on Monday, June 24 and Tuesday, June 25. The licence was revoked on Thursday, November 1, 2018, after illegal workers were discovered during a police immigration raid on Sunday, May 13, 2018.
Presiding magistrate Rebecca Moore said the employment of illegal workers by the owner was a "pattern of behaviour". The court heard two of the workers, Shahim Miah and Kukon Ahmed were Mr Miah's cousins, and along with Muhammed Choudhary were all illegal overstayers.
Sheikh Abdul Kareem and Paranjit Singh, meanwhile, were illegal entrants.
At court, Mr Miah had argued that all of the employees caught were hired on a 20 hour trial basis. However, during immigration enforcement interviews, the men confessed to working longer at the restaurant. Shahim Miah had worked at the restaurant for four years, Mr Ahmed for five to six months, Mr Singh for three to four weeks, and Mr Kareem for two days.
Mr Choudhary claimed he was not working at the restaurant in Wokingham Road, even though he was caught behind the bar.
The employment of the illegal immigrants has cost Mr Miah dearly. He has been served a £40,000 civil penalty by the Home Office for the five illegal immigrants found at the Garden of Gulab.
Illegal workers were also found at the Miah's restaurants in Pangbourne and Spencers Wood. Three illegal workers were found in Pangbourne and four illegal workers were found in Spencers Wood. These restaurants are run on behalf of Jamshed Miah by his brothers, Abadul and Fakrul Islam. Mr Miah was fined a further £60,000 for the illegal workers found at the other locations.
