The two main directors of Rice Flame Bar and Grill, the Asian restaurant group which had outlets on Deansgate, Piccadilly Gardens, Chester Street and the Trafford Centre, have been disqualified for tax evasion and for employing illegal workers.

The Asian restaurant group were also found guilty of employing illegal workers

The company went into liquidation in November 2013 with debts of almost £700,000.

Acting company director, Manoj Krishnan Verma, admitted to suppressing till codes over a number of years in order to falsify cash sales and is now being forced by HM Revenue and Customs to pay back the tax owed on the total amount.

Although not officially a director of the company, Manoj ran the business throughout its trading period. Manoka Suzuki, who was officially appointed company director between February 1st 2011 and April 4th 2013, was also found guilty of adjusting or deleting cash sales totalling at least £771,460. They were both disqualified from managing or controlling a company for twelve and nine years respectively.

Following an investigation by Insolvency Services, Manoj’s mother Usha, and brother Amit, who were appointed directors of the company, but took no role in the managing of the company, were also disqualified from managing or controlling a company.

The Asian restaurant group were also found guilty of failing to comply with statutory obligations under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006 by employing illegal workers.

Rob Clarke, group leader director of Insolvent Investigations North, said: “This deliberate deception on the tax man is totally unacceptable, coupled with the large scale employment of illegal workers, it demonstrates a wholesale disregard for the law and a total lack of business ethics.”

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