Llandudno chef who hid in freezer is deported

Jan 8 2009 by Judith Phillips, North Wales Weekly News

A CHEF who was found hiding in a freezer when a Llandudno restaurant was raided by immigration officers has been deported back to China.

The chef who worked at the Sakura Japanese restaurant at the Clarence Hotel on Gloddaeth Street had overstayed his UK visa and was using the disused overturned chest freezer as a bedroom.

In the same raid at the Clarence last month it was found that all four staff members at the Beijing Restaurant in the premises were also illegal immigrants, and the UK Border Agency says it’s in the process of obtaining emergency travel documents to also deport them to China.

Both restaurants were served with notices of potential liability for employing illegal workers and face fines of up to £10,000 for each worker if they can’t provide evidence that legally required checks were carried out before they were employed.

“Our message to businesses is clear: ignorance is not a defence when employing illegal workers. The use of illegal labour represents a serious risk to legitimate competition and is unfair on honest employers who pay their workers a proper salary.

“As this operation shows we are committed to finding immigration offenders in North Wales and removing them from the UK,” said Jane Farleigh, Wales regional director of the UK Border Agency.

She said the operation in Llandudno was one of many in North Wales last year targeting illegal workers and a total of 142 were deported.

Anyone who suspects illegal workers are being employed can contact 029 2092 4727 and there is information for employers to be found at www.bia.homeoffice.gov.uk/employers