‘Business as usual' for Italian restaurant despite boss' imprisonment for fraud

It is "business as usual" according to staff at a Lincolnshire Italian restaurant after their boss was jailed for £175,000 tax fraud.

Fathi Zureiqi was sentenced to 18 months in prison after failing to declare almost £400,000 of takings over a three-year period at Italian restaurant Tiamo in Sleaford and Tiamo Pizza in nearby North Hykeham.

But according to manager Aaron Baggaley, the two operations will be continue to trade as normal.

"It's business as usual," he told The Caterer. "We're very popular with the locals with a lot of loyal, regular customers who are happy to support us."

Passing sentence on Monday, reported www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/lincolnshire-restaurant-owner-jailed-175000-1866996%5D">Lincolnshire Live, Judge John Pini QC told Zureiqi: "This was tax evasion persisted in over four and a half years involving not just one but two businesses.

"Nobody likes to pay tax. Tax fraud deprives the government of money it needs for public services for those who are in real need. Tax fraud affects all of those who honestly pay their own taxes.

"I am asked to consider suspending the sentence but this is far too serious. There has to be an immediate custodial sentence."

Two full-time and five part-time members of staff are maintaining trade at the two Tiamo venues.

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