TWO former bosses of a well-known Worcester restaurant have been banned for six years for employing illegal workers.

The Home Office has revealed that Mohammed Mulaim and Abdul Bari, who used to run Massalla Lounge in Broad Street, have been disqualified from working as directors.

Massala Lounge Limited was set up in August 2007 by Mulaim, who resigned as a director three years ago, and Bari.

Your Worcester News reported in June 2012 that immigration officers had swooped on the curry house and arrested three staff members, from Bangladesh, who had no right to be in the UK.

This led to Massalla Lounge being fined £15,000.

Mulaim and Bari are among eight directors from across the country banned as part of a joint scheme by the Insolvency Service and Home Office Immigration Enforcement.

Neither Mulaim, aged 33, nor 35-year-old Bari have been involved with the business since 2012.

Their six-year ban came into force on January 13.

Massalla Lounge, which describes itself on its website as “Worcester’s favourite Indian restaurant”, continues to operate successfully under new ownership.

We made repeated attempts to contact the current proprietors of the restaurant, but they chose not to comment on Mulaim and Bari’s situation.

Business Minister Jo Swinson said: “These directors had an unfair advantage over their competitors by employing illegal workers for low wages.

“Illegal working is not victimless. It is often exploitative, undercuts honest employers, cheats legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities and defrauds the taxpayer.

“The public has a right to expect those who break the law will face the consequences and we have worked closely in this case with our colleagues at the Home Office to achieve this disqualification.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “Businesses should be aware that they have a duty to check that their staff have permission to work in the UK.”

“We are happy to work with employers who play by the rules but those who do not should know that they will face the consequences.”