Indian Restaurant Owner Fined in Scotland

London: An Indian restaurant owner in Scotland has been fined 770 pounds by a UK court for breaching food hygiene standards.

Sujath Ali, who ran Zara's Indian Restaurant in Aberdeen, was issued with improvement notices in 2013 following a series of inspections.

At Aberdeen Sheriff Court this week, Ali admitted four charges of failing to comply with the orders, local media reports said.

Mr Ali's solicitor, Gregory Phillips, told the court that Ali had compiled a list of jobs to be tackled, and had begun working his way through it with his two chefs.

"Ali had been away from the business, but immediately immersed himself in this and the cleaning. However, it very quickly became apparent that it would not be possible to complete the works within the two weeks required in the notice. He had done all he possibly could to comply," he said.

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"The business ceased trading just two months later due to a lack of cash flow. He knows the seriousness of not complying with the notice," he added.

The charges state that Ali failed to comply with the notices, which required him to ensure the kitchen and equipment were cleaned thoroughly under the Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006 and European Commissions Act 1972.

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The 32-year-old failed to ensure all food containers, utensils, knives, peelers, cheese grater and tin opener - which were dirty and sticky when inspectors visited on July 22, 2013 - were cleaned thoroughly.

He did not ensure all the redundant fridges, including door seals, were clean - with one being used to store dirty utensils and equipment, the court reports said.

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Inspectors also found he failed to make sure surfaces such as tap, door, fridge and freezer handles throughout the restaurant were clean, with many being dirty and greasy.