More than half of staff at Holbeach restaurant were illegal workers living on site

A tandoori restaurant could lose its alcohol licence after illegal workers were found living on-site.

When inspectors called at Chameli Tandoori in Holbeach they found more than half the staff working were illegal and one had also been working without permission at a Spalding premises seven years ago.

The Holbeach venue’s licence holder, Abu Rasel, had previously been a director of the company which ran Tulip Tandoori in Spalding. The company went into liquidation after being fined and Mr Rasel was banned from being a company director for six years in 2016.

Both Mr Rasel and the designated premises supervisor at Chameli, Siddiqur Fuad Rahman are due to appear before South Holland District Council’s licensing committee next Tuesday.

Lincolnshire police’s Chief Constable Chris Haward, asked for a review of the premises licence and say there was evidence of ‘criminal activity’ at the restaurant.

According to a report to go before the committee, police “have obtained evidence which indicates the management of these premises has been operating it in such a manner that amounts to criminal activity.”

Aside from members of staff working illegally, the inspection also revealed people living on the premises which should have been registered as a House of Multiple Occupation (HMO).

The numbers formed more than one family and they were sharing all facilities at the property.

“There are also safety concerns in relation to fire regulations,” says the report.

The restaurant’s licence currently allows the sale of alcohol between noon and 1am six days a week, and noon and 12.30am on Sundays.

Almost half the report to go before the committee is exempt, meaning further details about the application to have the licence revoked will be dealt with behind closed doors by committee members.

They have the option of revoking the licence, modify the conditions, remove the designated premises supervisor or exclude a licensable activity.

In 2016 The Voice reported that Mr Rasel’s previous restaurant in Spalding was visited by immigration officers in March 2014. The company was fined £20,000 but the amount was part of £45,277 it owed when the parent company, Sogor Ltd was put into liquidation.

Mr Rasel’s ban on being a director came after the Insolvency Service found he and his partner had folded the company in a bid to not pay the fine.