Takeaway owner rejects slavery and money laundering accusations at licensing review

A Lancaster takeaway owner, who is a Lancaster University economics graduate, has rejected accusations his business is linked to modern slavery, saying a woman who made abuse claims was, instead, in a domestic relationship row and a man who made similar abuse claims was a disgruntled employee.

Rudolf Collaku, of Flames takeaway on Rosemary Lane, Lancaster city centre, also denied suggestions of money laundering at a licensing review at Lancaster City Council. He said £40,000 found ‘stuffed’ inside a safe was due to be put in a bank despite police suspicions it was being kept out of the formal banking system.

But he has accepted breaching immigration regulations and various licensing conditions in the past, including covid pandemic, door staff and delivery vehicle parking rules.

The council licensing review heard Home Office immigration officers have visited Flames various times and found six illegal workers overall. The Home Office requested the licensing review, supported by the police.

Mr Collaku, of West Street, Lancaster, attended the meeting, which was not a criminal hearing, with a lawyer and a barrister, who spoke for him.

Council licensing officer Dave Eglin outlined key vents over recent years at Flames. These included illegal workers being found and ‘illegal working as a constant theme’. Mr Collaku had also regularly ignored warnings and owed three different fines, totalling £110,000 from 2023 and 2024.

Mr Eglin added: “In mitigation, his solicitors say Mr Collaku was born in Albania. He came to the UK in 2000, went to Lancaster University and got a degree in economics. Today, he lives with his wife and children. The takeaway now has three full-time staff. Each current member was checked and has the right to live and work in the UK, as does his wife. It is a family business, in effect.

“Mr Collaku accepts he had made errors through naivety, trusting people too much or being ‘stupid’. He recently entered a Home Office payment arrangement regarding hefty fines, with a £2,000 monthly direct debit. But he does not agree with much of the police findings. He wishes to keep the licence and keep trading to provide for his family and keep the staff.”

Josh Johns, a Home Office immigration officer, said: “I won’t repeat much of what has already been said. But there were six illegal workers on five occasion, which shows complete disregard for regulations.”

In questions., Mr Johns accepted he or another immigration officer may have used a comment like ‘well done’ to Mr Collaku during one inspection when things seemed to improve. But the wider context was very poor compliance He added: “I have been in this job for ten years. This case was probably among the worst I have seen.”

He also said Mr Collaku had only started making fine payments recently in September. This was after the Home Office handed the matter to a debt collector.

PC Andrew Taylor of Lancashire Constabulary, listed incidents and reports over the years. He also said Mr Collaku received a caution for assault in 2006 and a conviction in 2017 for food safety and hygiene offences.

Then he said: “In 2019, a Bulgarian woman told police she was put in a sham marriage with a cousin of Mr Collaku’s. The woman said she then worked at Flames and was exploited. Mr Collaku took her passport, preventing her from returning home. But she would not make a formal complaint for fear of repercussions.”

In a search, PC Taylor found £40,000 cash ‘stuffed’ in a safe at Flames. He felt the un-banked cash could be a sign of money laundering.

In 2022, a Bulgarian man went to Lancaster Police Station, claiming Mr Collaku had taken his passport and slapped him in an argument. The man did not want to make a formal complaint but wanted to return home. Mr Collaku was later given a community protection warning by the police. He made no comment when cautioned, PC Taylor said.

PC Taylor added: “The issue with people employed there being treated poorly is classed as modern slavery, with documents taken and the person being slapped. There are no convictions today but, on the balance of probabilities, these modern slavery reports will be true. The £40,000 cash was a sign, in my opinion, of money laundering.”

He added: “As a police officer for over 30 years, I have been doing this job a long time. I work with all types of licensed premises so they get support. But there comes a time when there is no option but to bring a review.

The council’s licensing decision will be announced in coming days.