Source: Evening Telegraph
Published Date:
15 September 2010
15 September 2010
An Indian man arrested on suspicion of human trafficking offences in Kettering on Monday is to be deported, the UK Border Agency has confirmed.
Border agency officials and Northamptonshire Police arrested three men aged 32, 36 and 36 in raids on the Royal and George Hotels in Kettering on Monday afternoon.
Two of the men have been bailed pending further enquiries while one of the 36 year olds has been found to be in the country on an expired visa and deportation proceedings have been launched.
The UK Border Agency raided the hotels believing two men were being forced to work in harsh conditions against their will.
Two men were taken into the care of the charity Migrant Helpline during the operation.
The names of the three men arrested have not been released.
UK Border Agency assistant director Sam Bullimore said: "Human trafficking is a brutal form of organised crime and combating it is a key priority. Working with our law enforcement partners we are determined to create a hostile environment for those who prey on vulnerable immigrants and take action against them."
Police forensic officers were yesterday continuing the investigation at the George Hotel, which was closed until further notice.
The Royal Hotel remains open.
The two hotels were bought by Indian tycoon Saurabh Agarwal last year.
General manager Raj Yezhuvath is believed to have left the business on Saturday.
The George is in the middle of a £1.5 million revamp and the owners, who have five hotels near the Taj Mahal in India, have applied to refurbish the Royal as well.
Shahzad Hashmi, who is project manager for the redevelopment of The George, said: "There must be some confusion because the owners seem to be very fair people.
"I'm amazed because as far as I know they are investors.
"It's a joke. If someone is going to invest £25 million or £30 million they cannot have a business running with human trafficking.
"95 per cent of people working in the hotel are from the local area."
Mr Hashmi said the redevelopment was being carried out by a local contractor who brought in his own people.
He said only a couple of kitchen staff from the hotels' 30 odd staff were Indian.
It was hoped new ownership would be a fresh start for the 370-year-old George Hotel, which had to close last summer after the previous owner failed to pay its electricity bill.
Simon Musto, of Simon Musto Estate Agents, which neighbours the George in Sheep Street, said: "We went out about 2.30pm and there were policemen there. There were three cars and a van.
"There were police over the entrance way here and the main entrance.
"I left to go home at 6pm and there were still as many police there."
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