Immigration officers discovered people hiding in a freezer and a cupboard during raids on a Chinese restaurant in a leafy Kent village.
The Home Office Immigration Enforcement team has called for a licence review of Zan Chinese Restaurant in Hawkhurst following two visits last year.
During the raids, staff were seen “running and exiting the building from the kitchen door”.
One person was found hiding in a small cupboard in a loft during a March visit. In a November raid, another individual was reportedly discovered hiding in a freezer.
Zan Oriental in Kent
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The Home Office report states that immigration enforcement officers visited the restaurant on March 22 and November 13 last year after receiving “intelligence” about illegal workers.
During the March raid, four people were seen fleeing through the kitchen door. Two were arrested while the others returned to the building and attempted to hide, while one person was discovered hiding in a small cupboard in a loft.
Owner Shaojian Chen “admitted that he was not aware of his duty to conduct pre-employment checks before hiring staff members and to keep records of the checks”.
The individuals found were from Malaysia and China.
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Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
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This individual had been encountered during the March raid and had previously tried to evade officers. Chen was found cooking in the kitchen during this visit.
The report states he “appeared irate and was uncooperative with officers during this visit”.
His behaviour meant officers were unable to carry out an employer interview at the time.
The Home Office report noted: “The licence holder refused to cooperate with officers during the second visit. This behaviour and repeated breach demonstrate the licence holder’s deliberate disregard for immigration and employment laws.”
Following the raids, Chen was fined £135,000 for employing illegal workers.
A fine relating to the second visit in November is still “under consideration”, the Home Office report has revealed.
The restaurant’s licence is now under review by Tunbridge Wells Borough Council.
Chen could also lose his licence altogether or face other sanctions.
The council’s licensing committee will hear the case at a meeting on Tuesday, March 18.