Restaurant fined for using curry touts

An Osborn Street restaurant has been prosecuted and fined for premises license breaches over the use of touts to generate custom.
Mr Ali Akbar of Locton Green, Ruston Street, E3 (director of the company that owns the Sajna Restaurant on Osborn Street) and Mr Mohammed Abu Jahid of Whitechapel Road, E1 (the premises licence holder) pleaded guilty to three breaches of Section 136(1)(a) Licensing Act 2003. The defendants were sentenced at Thames Magistrates Court on 25th October.
The court heard evidence that a tout employed by Sajna Restaurant approached council test purchasers on the evening of 5th July 2012 and induced them to visit the restaurant and escorted them there. Breaches also included the maintenance of CCTV footage and the ability to operate the CCTV system at the restaurant.
Deputy Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Cllr Ohid Ahmed, said: “Brick Lane is an exciting and vibrant area that is enjoyed by thousands of visitors every week. But curry touts’ persistent and aggressive behaviour causes an obstruction to both visitors and local residents, and can create an unpleasant environment for everyone.
“The prosecution demonstrates that we are prepared to take swift and decisive action if restaurants are found to be flouting the rules and continuing to tout for business.”
Mr Ali was fined £200 for each offence, making a total fine of £600.  Mr Ali was also ordered to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £250 as well as the £15 Victim Surcharge.
Mr Jahid was also fined £200 for each offence, making a total fine of £600.  Mr Jahid was also ordered to pay a contribution towards prosecution costs of £250 as well as the £15 Victim Surcharge.
The total to be paid by both Mr Ali and Mr Jahid combined is £1,730. £500 of that was to be paid before Mr Ali and Mr Jahid left Court and the balance is to be paid at a rate of £300 per month.