THE boss of a popular Dunfermline restaurant has admitted he blatantly broke the law by employing a worker he knew was an illegal immigrant.

When a raid was carried out on the Viceroy restaurant in Dunfermline, the illegal worker was caught trying to escape the premises.

The incident resulted in a court appearance for Mohammed Chaudry, who opened the Indian restaurant 25 years ago.

Chaudry, 62, of Blair Grove, Blairhall, admitted that on April 23 at The Viceroy restaurant, Queen Anne Street, being an employer, he employed Sazzad Hossain, aged 24, who was subject to immigration control and had not been granted leave to enter or remain in the UK.

Depute fiscal Dev Kapadia told the court: “Search warrants were granted and a team of immigration enforcement officers went to the Viceroy restaurant.

“They found a number of workers in the front and back of the restaurant. Sazzad Hossain was seen walking out of the rear of the building.

“He was stopped by the immigration officers and asked if he was working there. He said he was and he was escorted back inside.

“Mohammed Chaudry identified himself as the assistant manager.

“Immigration officers found that Hossain had no right to be working in the UK. He was in breach of his temporary release.

“When he was interviewed he said he’d worked in a number of restaurants prior to arriving in Dunfermline.

“He approached a number of restaurants and then spoke to Mohammed Chaudry. He advised him of his immigration status. Mr Chaudry initially said ‘no’ but Hossain told him he had nowhere to go.

“He was then allowed to stay in the premises and he worked in the kitchen. He was provided with food and some cash and worked in the kitchen two to three days a week.”

Defence solicitor Urfan Dar said his client previously owned the restaurant, which he had opened in 1992.

There had been many changes in the “configuration of ownership” over the years and his client was now an employee but still ran the restaurant in terms of hiring and firing staff.

“Mr Hossain approached him and my client said ‘no’. He was then given a bit of a sob story about his parents both dying and him wanting to support his family back home.

“That was the factor in Mr Chaudry clearly flouting the regulations. He recognises this is a serious matter and something that should not be repeated.

“Apart from this incident, he can be regarded as a man of good character.”

Chaudry had been facing three charges arising from the raid but not guilty pleas were accepted on two of these.

Sheriff Craig McSherry fined Chaudry £400.