Police have again opposed a man they say has previously been found to have sold illegal cigarettes from taking over a shop that’s had its alcohol licence revoked two months ago.
In November, South Holland District Council’s Licensing Committee revoked the licence of Delicja on Westlode Street after it was found to be undertaking working practices which raised serious public safety concerns and the apparent use of an illegal worker.
And in the same month the committee refused to grant a transfer of the shop’s licence to Aram Salar.Now Mr Salar has applied again to be the designated premises supervisor from current premises licence holder Mr Mohammad Salih Attuf.
And Lincolnshire Police has objected again through its Chief Officer Bill Skelly.
In a statement to the Licensing Committee, he says: “Since this application was received Delicja’s premises licence has been revoked due to non-compliance, illegal working, illegal medicines and concerns in relation to beer pricing.
“Mr Sala has a history that is concerning to Lincolnshire Police so much so that along with the history of Spalding and it’s issue surrounding illegal tobacco sales, believe that the exceptional circumstances apply and that granting the application would undermine the crime prevention licensing objective.”
The police evidence states that Mr Salar had fled the country while officials investigated money laundering in a shop in Swindon that had also been found to be hosting illegal tobacco while he was its premises licence holder.
Illegal cigarettes were also found under the floorboards of his home in February 2012, the evidence claims.
Mr Skelley’s statement highlighted that their evidence raised ‘serious concerns’ and continued: “He was in charge of a premises when illegal tobacco products were found. The premises was licensed, Mr Salar was in control but not the premises licence holder.
“Some months later illegal tobacco products were then found stored at his home address under floor boards.
“Mr Salar then failed to attend court and left the country for a number of years
“When he did return he was sentenced to two months imprisonment for failing to surrender.”
The hearing of the Panel of the Committee of the Licensing Authority is due to take place today (Thursday).
