Rotherham curry house fined over fake vodka and filth

Imran Rasab, the food business operator of the Sanam Balti, formerly known as the Minar Balti, in Domine Lane, Rotherham, admitted nine offences contravening food safety laws at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court.

The offences included the substitution of Smirnoff vodka with a product that was not vodka, an inadequate tracing record to show where he had bought his alcoholic spirits and not complying with a hygiene improvement notice issued by Rotherham Borough Council's Food, Health and Safety Team. 

The notice had required the premises to implement a documented food safety management system.

Rasab had also failed to ensure that the council had received up-to-date food premises registration details.

Other food hygiene offences related to damaged and unclean pieces of equipment, the premises being structurally poor, and the business failing to have suitable cleaning materials, such as soap.

Rasab also agreed that 11 other offences should be taken into consideration.

Mr Darren Withers, mitigating, said that Rasab, who had no previous convictions, was trying to hand over the running of the premises to another individual and these issues had occurred as a result of lack of communication and clear responsibilities for employees.

Mr Withers added that over time, the restaurant was seeking to address the issues identified and improve standards.

The court imposed a penalty of £2,700 on Rasab, comprising £300 for each of the nine offences to which he had pleaded guilty, together with costs of £2,300 and a victim surcharge of £15.

A council spokeswoman said that customers in the borough's restaurants had the right to expect both clean premises and the security of knowing that what they were buying were legitimate brands and not fake goods.

She added: "Hygiene improvement notices are served for a purpose and in this case the defendant did not comply with this, leaving customers under possible threat.

“We always try to work with businesses to sort out any problems but we will take formal action, and take them to court where necessary."