A WICKHAM restaurant manager caught in an immigration raid claims he "didn't have time to check" the papers of three staff arrested by the Home Office.

Officers visited Kuti’s Restaurant, on Fareham Road, just before 8pm last Thursday, the Home Office said today.

Staff were questioned to establish whether they had the right to live and work in the UK.

Three men were arrested. A 22-year-old was working in breach of his visa; a 27-year-old had overstayed his visa and a 36-year-old was found to have entered the country illegally.

Restaurant manager Mahim Uddin told the Chronicle: "We had the papers but they gave us the wrong one. It's a forged one. We didn't have time to check.

"What they gave me looks right but we couldn't get to the Home Office to check. I rang three times but it didn't go through."

He plans to take the Home Office to court to challenge the detention, he added.

The three were transferred to immigration detention pending their removal from the UK.

Kuti's was served a notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker arrested will be imposed unless the employer can demonstrate that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out, such as seeing a passport or Home Office document.

If proof is not provided, this is a potential total of up to £60,000.

It is unclear whether the restaurant is still linked to the Kuti's chain, with head offices in Southampton. Asked about this by the Chronicle, Mr Uddin refused to answer.

Carla Johnson, head of the South Central Home Office Immigration Enforcement team, said: “The message to businesses in Hampshire using illegal labour is clear. Our dedicated, specialist teams will catch you and if the correct checks have not been carried out you will pay a heavy penalty.

“Illegal working cheats the taxpayer, undercuts honest employers and often exploits some of society’s most vulnerable people.

“We rely on information from the public and I would urge people to report suspected immigration abuse to us.”

People with information about suspected immigration abuse can contact the Home Office or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.