Owner of Ringwood restaurant Indian Tree in danger of losing licence over employing illegal workers

A RINGWOOD restaurant owner could lose his alcohol licence for repeatedly hiring illegal workers.

Adib Bachhu, who runs Indian Tree on Market Place, has had a total of £175,000 in fines imposed on him over the last 10 years for flouting immigration laws.

It heard how, since 2012, he employed 14 people who had no right to work in the UK.

The rule-breaking emerged during a meeting of New Forest District Council's licensing sub-committee which debated whether to strip him of his licence, and police requested a review.

The latest illegal workers were discovered during a raid on the Indian Tree on 12th January this year by police and Home Office immigration enforcement officers, acting on a tip-off.

One man was arrested but, according to a report by a police officer involved, it was likely there were other illegal employees who were not present on the night.

PC Lee Scott said in a statement to the sub-committee: “I do not believe we encountered the full workforce. It was a quiet midweek, wet and windy night. Staff levels were lower than normal.”

The hearing heard that after two staff members without the right to work in the UK were found at Indian Tree in 2017, Mr Bachhu’s licence was suspended for three months.

He also had an illegal working compliance order imposed on him by Portsmouth Magistrates' Court.

But councillors heard that he had failed to adhere to conditions which included him not being able to employ staff himself.

During the raid on the restaurant in January, however, the manager told officers “the boss” – Mr Bachhu – hired staff not him.

There were also no staff records at the premises as required by law.

A statement from Hampshire Constabulary said it was “concerned that the poor management of the premises is detrimentally undermining the licensing objectives".

It added: “Illegal working is at the centre of a wealth of other crimes. At worst, illegal working can be indicative of modern slavery or human trafficking where vulnerable people are exploited.”

It said it was seeking a review of the licence on the “on the grounds that the premises is failing to uphold the licensing objectives, primarily the prevention of crime and disorder.”

Giving evidence at the hearing, Tim Kemp from the Home Office said Mr Bachhu “holds no regard for immigration law” and that it was “highly likely” he would commit further offences in the future.

He said that Mr Bachhu “had a history of employing persons who have right to work in the UK”.

The hearing were also told that Mr Bachhu, who did not attend the hearing, had not paid any of the fines imposed on him, instead using a “loophole” to avoid it.

After receiving a fine, the committee heard, he closed the company he was then running and set up another one.

PC Mark Hawley explained that when a fine was issued it was against the company and not Mr Bachhu.

He added that it was “not very often” that the force asked for a review of a licence but said it had asked for one in the case of the Indian Tree “such is the serious nature of the breach”.

The sub-committee, which sat last Friday, is expected to announce its decision tomorrow (Friday).