A Southall restaurant owner has been fined £6,000 for employing illegal workers at the New Asian Tandoori Restaurant in The Green, Southall.

Upinder Sharma was fined £6,000 at Ealing Magistrates Court on January 11 after he pleaded guilty to employing illegal workers at the New Asian Tandoori Restaurant in The Green, Southall.

The restaurant was first raided by the Border and Immigration Agency (BIA) officers in January 2006 and Mr. Sharma was sent a letter warning him about employing illegal immigrants.

During the next two raids in January and May 2007, nine people were arrested for working without permission.

Five men and two women were arrested during the raid in May 2007. Two were failed asylum seekers, two had overstayed, two were illegal immigrants and one was working in breach of the regulations.

The owner of the restaurant was served notice and asked to show proof that the suspects were legal workers.

Mr. Sharma was fined £6,000 at Ealing Magistrates Court after he pleaded guilty to employing illegal workers.

Measures taking effect in February will mean employers who hire illegal workers could face a fine of up to £10,000 for each illegal worker found at the premises. Knowingly employing illegal workers could incur an unlimited fine and up to two years in prison.

Any employer breaking the law could lose the right to recruit from outside the European Union.

In 2006 alone, the Agency carried out over 5,200 illegal working operations and removed more than 22,000 people from the UK.

Anyone who suspects that illegal workers are being employed at a business should contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where anonymity can be assured.