A RESTAURANT owner claims that immigration officials brought two illegal workers from off the street and into his business.

Immigration Enforcement officers visited the Jalsagor, a specialist in Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine, on Hereford’s St Owens Street last Friday
night.

A spokesman for the Home Office said: “Three Bangladeshi men aged 28, 39 and 44 were arrested as they were found to have overstayed their
visas. They were detained while steps are taken to remove them from the UK.”

The Home Office added that a fourth Bangladeshi man, aged 37, was found to have an outstanding immigration application which did not entitle him to work in the UK – he was escorted from the premises
and must report regularly to Immigration Enforcement while his case is progressed.

“Jalsagour Restaurant has been served with a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found may be imposed on the employer,” the Home Office statement added.

“They will be liable for this unless evidence is provided that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.”

Jalsagor owner Jay Aberdeen said that two of the four men were brought into his businesses from outside by the enforcement officers.

“I told them they had got it wrong but the restaurant was packed with customers,” said Mr Aberdeen. “I didn’t know they had brought two people in from outside.”

He claimed that another man was visiting the restaurant and not working, while the fourth man had lied to him about having a work permit.