Boss of 'dirty' Newtown curry house is fined £1,350

Muhfuz Raha, 42, of the Preem restaurant, Pool Road, Newtown, admitted nine environmental health charges when he appeared at Llandrindod Wells Magistrates Court.

Inspectors found mouldy food, unclean equipment, and workers without a high degree of personal cleanliness when they visited on August 2, 2016.

Nigel Vaughan, prosecuting for Powys County Council, said Raha failed to keep the premises in a clean condition, with areas of the restaurant being found to be dirty and greasy with food debris in various places.

A number of articles, fittings and equipment used to prepare food were not cleaned including a green plastic board used to prepare salads, that was described as dirty and heavily scored. Metal skewers for meat were also found to be unclean and with food debris on them, while microwaves were also not clean.

The inspection also found that food handlers did not have a high degree of personal cleanliness and did not wear suitable or clean protective clothing.

It was also revealed that there was not enough effort to protect food from contamination, with raw fish being prepared in an area where there was salad, while plugs were picked up off the floor and placed on the work surfaces.

Food handlers were found not to have been properly trained or supervised and Raha said he had problems in getting staff.

Raha had also failed to put in place and maintain procedures to prevent cross contamination and he had failed to notify the Environmental Health Department when his business partner left.

He was also found to have placed unsafe food on the market in that mouldy food was found in the restaurant.

Mr Vaughan said when interviewed Raha made full admissions about conditions falling below the standards required and he admitted he had had problems in recruiting staff.

Defending, Jane Thomas said Raha had co-operated throughout the investigation and made many admissions. She said Raha was in business with another man and it was he who was in charge of running the kitchen while Raja was in charge of front of house. She said unfortunately the business partner left more or less overnight.

She said: "The business was in his business partner's name and he was lost and was unable to keep the place trading at an acceptable standard.

"There have been a number of inspections since, the restaurant is open and trading and it now has two stars in the hygiene ratings and that is thanks to Raha's efforts," she said.

"He stayed with the business and tried to turn it around. There have been huge problems with staff and keeping staff and he was not able to be in two places at one time, he could not do it all himself.

"The business really was in dire straits and he has worked very hard to put it back on its feet and he is at the point where the standards are now acceptable and he is paying for another inspection to get an increase in the star ratings, he is that confident things have improved."

Magistrates fined Raha £1,350 and ordered him to pay £500 costs and a £135 surcharge.