A RESTAURANT owner pleaded guilty to failing to improve food hygiene at his business and lying to council officers.

In August and September 2010 an Environmental Health Officer from Epping Forest District Council inspected the Eye 2 Indian Restaurant in the High Road, Loughton.

The officer found that the premises and kitchen equipment were dirty, food was not stored safely and food safety records were not being kept.

Mr Syed Tahmin Muhith, the owner, was ordered to improve hygiene in the restaurant and attend a food hygiene course.

On April 27, following a council investigation, Mr Muhith admitted to officers that he had lied to them about passing the course exam and had failed to improve hygiene standards at the restaurant.

Officers subsequently discovered that Eye 2 had gone in to liquidation and a new company, Curry Raj Ltd, had taken over.

Mr Muhith was the director of the new company but had not told the council.

At Harlow magistrates Court on July 19, Mr Muhith pleaded guilty to charges of failing to comply with a hygiene improvement notice, lying to a council officer about completing the food hygiene course and failing to notify the council of the change of name of the business. He was given a two year conditional discharge and was ordered to pay the district council’s £1,500 prosecution costs.

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