Chinese restaurant hit with £30,000 fine for employing illegal immigrants

The owners of a Chinese restaurant in Norfolk have been hit with a £30,000 fine after being found to be employing illegal immigrants.

UK Border Agency (UKBA) officers raided the China Diner, in Lowestoft, and arrested five men and three women working illegally. All now face deportation.

A UKBA spokesman said that all exits to the buffet-style diner were blocked off to stop employees escaping.

One woman hid in a locked room upstairs until police could get the key from the owner and take her away.

A spokesman for the UKBA said in a statement: "A notification of penalty has now been served for £30,000. The employers have been fined in relation to the five men and three women employees as it was found that they knowingly employed illegal immigrants."

China Diner owner Phan Lu had claimed the workers were friends of current employees and had been taken on while she was on holiday.

Chinese restaurant exposed for selling fake DVDs >>

Businesses urged to apply for foreign workers licence now >>

Restaurants named and shamed for employing illegal immigrants >>

Immigration officials must stop raiding restaurants at peak time >>

By Andrew Smith

E-mail your comments to Chris Druce here.