A KNUTSFORD restaurant is facing a £20,000 fine after immigration officers discovered an illegal immigrant in the workforce.

On Wednesday, June 15, a 25-year-old Albanian man was arrested in Don Giovanni in King Street after checks revealed he was in the country illegally.

The man is currently in detention while his case is progressed and the restaurant has been served a notice warning that it could be fined up to £20,000 unless it can prove that appropriate right to work document checks were carried out such as seeing a passport or Home Office document confirming permission to work.

The restaurant told the Guardian that it had been compliant with Home Office regulations and that it is working with the authority to resolve the issue.

A spokesperson for Don Giovanni, said: “They were very nice and friendly. They came and said they were checking for illegal immigrants following reports and then they checked all the documents.

“We had all the proof. At the end they thanked us for our cooperation.

“There was one staff member whose visa had expired at the end of May so they said he has to apply and wait now. He has applied and he has to wait for their response which is 14 to 21 days. I said that I appreciate any other requests that they had.

“All our staff have been with us for almost three and a half years.”

According to Don Giovanni’s team, the immigration enforcement officers- who were acting upon intelligence, had a list of Knutsford restaurants who would be subject to checks.

Under government law, the restaurant has 28 days to respond to the notice, and in the event of a fine is allowed to appeal the decision.

The business’ details may also be published by Immigration Enforcement, serving as a ‘warning’ to other businesses not to employ illegal workers.