‘Illicit cigs’ shop still open
A SHOP accused of selling illicit tobacco is still open more than six months after Manchester council revoked its licence because an appeal has been held up in the courts.
Euro Market in Cheetham Hill Road had its licence revoked in December after council staff claimed a chute from the flat above was used to sell illicit items. However, the owner appealed this decision, allowing the business to continue operating as usual until the appeal is heard at Manchester Magistrates’ Court. The business has since applied for a new premises licence which councillors on the licensing panel rejected at a town hall hearing on Monday.
A member of staff at the shop - who the owner claims has now been fired was caught by council officers selling illegal cigarettes last month.
A subsequent search of the premises carried out by the trading standards team on May 23 found no illicit tobacco products in the shop or the flat above it, but the owner failed to hand over CCTV footage requested by the council.
Speaking at the town hall hearing, business owner Barham Mohammad claimed that his former employee removed the CCTV footage requested. He denied selling illicit tobacco and questioned the council’s evidence.
He said: “I’m not jeopardising the licence I applied for. I’m not selling illegal cigarettes. I’m not doing anything illegal in the business. I’ve got a family to look after. The [CCTV footage] has been removed by a member of staff. They sold the cigarettes themselves when I was not there behind my back. It’s not me.”
Mr Mohammed, who worked at the store before taking over the business, said he has been busy looking after his wife who was in hospital expecting a child. He said his former employee who was ‘in training’ at the time wiped the CCTV. But speaking on behalf of the police force, PC Alan Isherwood told the panel that Mr Mohammad lacks the honesty and integrity required to hold a licence. Announcing the decision to refuse the application, licensing panel chairman Carmine Grimshaw said: “We appreciate the delays caused by the pandemic in the backlog to the courts. However, we’re appealing as a committee for the courts to deal with such cases as soon as they possibly can.”
The appeal is due to be heard at Manchester Magistrates on June 23.