Restaurant boss at centre of immigration raids: "Industry is vulnerable"
The owner of Gianbiaz has said the restaurant industry is vulnerable to opportunist illegal immigrants desperate to trick their way into work by handing over false documents.
Biaz Iaciosano, owner of the Gianbiaz Italian restaurant in Wellingborough Road, Northampton is facing the prospect of a 10,000 fine after an illegal Albanian woman was found working there during a swoop by Border Agency officials last week.
But the businessman, who has run the restaurant for the past 18 years, was confident he would escape any punishment as he said he had followed the correct procedures and had simply been tricked into accepting the woman's application, which he claimed came complete with a false passport, false National Insurance details and forged P46 form.
He said: "It is frustrating and I am angry about it but you also have to look at the bigger picture.
"Yes, someone has been detained and there is the possibility of a fine, but there is a person and a family there really struggling.
"They fled their home country in search of a better life and, through desperation, have gained a false passport to get work.
"We, in the restaurant industry, are a target. We offer unskilled jobs that nobody else wants to do so we will always attract these kind of applicants. We have to be on our guard."
It is the first time in 18 years that Gianbiaz has been caught with an illegal immigrant as a member of staff and Mr Iaciosano said he thoroughly checked the paperwork of all applicants.
He added: "We were warned by the Home Office six months ago to be on our guard but there's very little we can do.
"We check them as best we can and if we have any doubts we will ring the agencies involved because it's not worth the risk.
"It is frustrating but it's also very sad."
During last week's raids three Afghan immigrants were detained at the Up All Night takeaway in Regent Square, a popular haunt for late-night revellers.
Owner Mustafa Mansury, who faces a potential 30,000 fine, said: "I am confident this has just been a misunderstanding. At the time of the raids we didn't have the right paperwork on us but we are trying to find the documents at the moment and it shouldn't be a problem.
"I am sure everything will work out fine in the end."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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