Workers quizzed by immigration officers
Three suspected illegal workers were being questioned last night after immigration officers raided a popular Thetford curry house.The owner of the Nimmi Authentic Indian Cuisine restaurant was warned that he faced a hefty fine after three Bangladeshi employees were found to have forged passports.
Three suspected illegal workers were being questioned last night after immigration officers raided a popular Thetford curry house.
The owner of the Nimmi Authentic Indian Cuisine restaurant was warned that he faced a hefty fine after three Bangladeshi employees were found to have forged passports.
Ten officials from the UK Border Agency and Norfolk Police descended on the curry house in White Hart Street at lunchtime yesterday as part of an “intelligence-led” operation.
A spokesman said that immigration officers asked employees to produce documents to prove their right to work in the UK and discovered fake passports.
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Three Bangladeshi men, aged 27, 31, and 35, were arrested and were last night being questioned at Thetford police station regarding the immi-gration issues.
The owner of the Nimmi restaurant, Abdur Rouf, was issued with an on-the-spot notice, warning that he faces a fine of up to £30,000 for employing illegal workers.
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The spokesman for the UK Border Agency said further investigations would be carried out to establish whether proper checks were under-taken to employ the workers legally. He added that steps would be taken to remove the three men from the UK.
After the raid, Gail Adams, regional director of the UK Border Agency Midlands and East of England, said: “The UK Border Agency is determined to put a stop to illegal working in Norfolk.
“Anyone found to be working illegally should know that we will seek to remove them from the coun-try. If you employ illegal workers you could be named and shamed, face criminal charges and hefty fines.”
The Nimmi restaurant was closed last night.
Mr Rouf, who owns a number of shops and properties in Thetford, visited Bangladesh earlier this year to hand out cash to people affected by a devastating cyclone.
Employers unsure of the rules can visit www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/ employers or call the UK Border Agency employers helpline on 0845 010 6677.
Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business in Norfolk is asked to contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
