Restaurant allowed to reopen after raid by immigration officers
TURMERIC Gold has been allowed to reopen after immigration officers temporarily shut the popular Coventry restaurant.
The Indian restaurant, on Spon Street, was raided by officers a week ago who arrested five men found working illegally.
The business, which the Home Office says has a history of employing illegal workers, was closed by officers last Monday to give them time to apply for a compliance order at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court, which was granted on Tuesday. The restaurant was allowed to reopen at midday Thursday.
Compliance orders are usually requested when the business has a history of not complying with immigration laws. Under the order, immigration officers will conduct regular checks to ensure they are not employing anyone they shouldn’t be.
The Home Office has also said it is pursuing an unpaid penalty of £45,000 which was given to the business after three illegal workers were discovered working there in April 2015. According to the Home Office, the restaurant has been visited by Immigration Enforcement five times since 2008 and on each occasion individuals with no right to work were arrested at the premises.
The five men arrested on Saturday are not allowed back on the premises. Turmeric Gold could face a fine of up to £20,000 for each illegal worker unless they can demonstrate that the right document checks were carried out.
The Telegraph has called Tumeric Gold to ask for a comment.