A COMPANY director from Bolton has been banned for five years after his firm arranged employment for illegal workers.

Zamirahmed Munshi’s company, Dankart Limited, which has now gone into liquidation, was issued with a £60,000 fine after Home Office Immigration Officers (HOIE) discovered 12 people working illegally.

Their employment had been organised by Dankart.

Officials found that Munshi, aged 31, failed to ensure that Dankart Limited complied with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality to ensure that relevant immigration checks were completed and copy documents retained.

This resulted in the employment of a dozen illegal workers who were not allowed to accept work.

Home Office Immigration Officers (HOIE) discovered the breach during a visit in October, 2013. The company was issued with a fine of £60,000 of which £56,667 remained outstanding when the business went into liquidation.

The officers visited one of the company’s client’s trading premises on October 25, 2013 and discovered the workers. Their employment had been organised by Dankart.

As a result Dankart was issued with a civil penalty notice for £60,000 by HOIE.

Two payments totalling £3,333 were paid in respect of that notice and HOIE is a creditor in the liquidation proceedings for the balance of £56, 667.

The director disqualification notice states: “As the only director actively involved in the business during that period, Mr Munshi was responsible for ensuring that Dankart complied with all relevant legislation, including legislation relating to the employment of persons eligible to work. At the date of liquidation the total liabilities to creditors were £117,476 of which £56,667 was due to HOIE. “

The disqualification order started on December 19, 2016 and runs for five years. It lists Munshi’s last known address as Auburn Street, Great Lever.

The order means Munshi has been banned from being company director or being involved in the management of companies for five years.

Cheryl Lambert, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said that the employment of illegal workers was not a victimless crime after 11 other directors across the country were recently disqualified for failing to ensure that the companies complied with statutory obligations under The Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

She said: “These directors sought an unfair advantage over their competitors by employing people under the radar who were not entitled to work legally in the UK.

“If a company is found to be employing illegal workers and not carrying out the checks they are required to by law, then the Insolvency Service will take action to remove the directors from the market place, regardless of whether the company is in Liquidation or not.

“This action is a warning to other employers to seriously consider their duties and obligations.”