A MAGISTRATE has stopped sitting while investigations are made into the employment of illegal workers at two Worcester eateries.

Former city councillor Nurul Haque has been a JP at Worcester Magistrates Court for the past 11 years but has “voluntarily refrained” from sitting while the judicial office’s advisory committee look into raids at Pasha restaurant and Anaz takeaway in St John’s.

Mr Haque has previously said he is the manager of Pasha, and Anaz is the restaurant’s takeaway operation. We previously reported how officers from the UK Border Agency swooped on Tuesday, July 26.

A 32-year-old man and a 30-year-old man working at Pasha and a 42-year-old male at Anaz, were arrested.

Immigration checks revealed the three men, all from Bangladesh, had entered the UK illegally and had no right to work in the country.

On Tuesday, September 13, a civil penalty of £10,000 was served on Pasha and Anaz was landed with a £5,000 penalty.

A spokesman from the UK Border Agency said the fine for Pasha was served on a trading company called Wining and Dining Ltd based at Hunt House Farm, Frith Common, Tenbury Wells. The fine for Anaz was sent to the company Ahmedia Brother Ltd, which is registered to the same address.

Mr Haque is listed as a former director of both companies which had been given until Wednesday, October 12, to appeal the fines. The UK Border Agency said it hadn’t received an objection or an appeal from either business.

A Judicial Office spokesman confirmed that Mr Haque had voluntarily withdrawn from sitting while an advisory committee investigates what role he had with each restaurant.

She said: “Following the warrants which were executed on July 26, he spoke with his bench and has voluntarily refrained from sitting.

“He is still a magistrate but is not sitting at the moment.

“It is normal practice for an investigation to take place when there are any issues which may affect someone’s ability to sit as a magistrate.”

UK Border Agency immigration officer Nam Kalsi said: “Employers must check their staff have the right to work in the UK and we are happy to help those that want to play by the rules.

“But businesses that flout the law by employing illegal workers face heavy fines and possible prosecution.”

Mr Haque was unavailable for comment.