A WORCESTER Chinese restaurant could be fined up to £10,000 after an illegal worker was arrested during a raid.

Officers from the UK Border Agency raided the Angel Chef in Angel Street on Monday, July 11, following a tip-off.

When the officers entered the buffet restaurant, one of the workers tried to run off but was stopped.

The 37-year-old man was identified as a Malaysian national who had overstayed his visa.

The man, who had more than £8,000 in cash on him, was arrested and taken to Worcester police station before being transferred to an immigration detention centre, where he is waiting deportation.

Officers also checked the immigration status of all the other workers.

Angel Chef was issued with an on-the-spot penalty notice for employing an illegal worker and could now be fined up to £10,000, unless it can prove it carried out the correct right-to-work checks on its staff.

Paula Burton, from the UK Border Agency’s West Mercia team, said: “We will continue to crack down on companies that employ illegal workers and fail to carry out proper checks on passports and other identity documents.

“Any business that takes on a foreign national without permission to work is breaking the law and faces a heavy fine as well as the prospect of a prison sentence.”

Ken Yap, personnel manager for Angel Chef, said: “It is an unfortunate incident that someone was taken by the Border Agency, but at no time are we in support of in hiring illegal workers.

“We made all relevant checks before the person concerned was asked to work in the restaurant.

“For all employees or any perspective employees we carry out all relevant and repeated checks using the resources from UK Borders Agency to ensure as an employer our legal responsibilities are met.”

Employers unsure of the steps they must take to avoid employing illegal workers can visit ukba.

homeoffice.gov.uk/employers or can call the UK Border Agency’s Employers Helpline on 03001 234699.

Anyone who suspects illegal workers are being employed at a business in Worcestershire can call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 anonymously or visit crimestoppers-uk.org.