AN award-winning Newcastle Emlyn restaurant has re-opened its doors after being temporarily closed down by Immigration Enforcement officers.

Yasmin’s, in Sycamore Street, is back in business after it was shut last Thursday following a raid by officers.

But while it is now trading again, a compliance order against the restaurant has been granted by Swansea Magistrates Court and will remain in force until September 21, 2018.

It includes requirements that the business owner must check that their employees have the right to work, must permit entry by immigration officers to the premises to inspect for compliance and must inform Immigration Enforcement in writing before opening any other business.

Following the raid last week, two men from Bangladesh, both aged 37, who had allegedly overstayed their visas, were arrested. They have been detained while steps are taken to remove them from the UK.

A further two men from Bangladesh, a 45-year-old who has an outstanding immigration application which does not entitle him to work, and a 42-year-old who has no permission to work must now report regularly to Immigration Enforcement while their cases are progressed.

A Home Office statement said that previous visits to Yasmin’s, conducted in August 2013 and January and October 2014, found a total of five illegal workers and that since 2012, civil penalties totalling £88,750 have been imposed on the business, of which more than £71,000 remains unpaid.

This money is being actively pursued by the Home Office.

The statement also said that given Yasmin’s history of non-compliance, officers had been able to temporarily close the business using immigration powers which form part of the Immigration Act 2016.

Under these powers, businesses found to be employing illegal workers and with a history of doing so can be closed for up to 48 hours during which time an application is made to the court for a compliance order.

Yasmin’s was served a referral notice in relation to the illegal workers found on Thursday. The notice warns that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

If proof is not provided, this is potentially a total of up to £80,000.

Richard Johnson, from Immigration Enforcement in Wales, said: “Businesses that persistently employ illegal workers must face the consequences.

“These immigration powers give us an opportunity to further crack down on those offenders where civil penalties have been issued and not paid.”

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact https://www.gov.uk/report-immigration-crime or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.