A CURRY house boss banned from running a company after employing illegal immigrants is still working in the restaurant.

Mohammed Eleas Hussain, from the Bengal Palace in Seaford, has been disqualified from running, forming or managing a company for seven years by the government.

However The Argus discovered him still working in the restaurant and promoting himself as owner

Three illegal workers were found at the Bengal Palace in 2013. Mr Hussain was fined £15,000 by the Home Office, but his company Hussain Bros Ltd went into liquidation owing more than £820,000 - including the unpaid fine.

Mr Hussain, known as Eleas, has now been banned by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy which prevents him from becoming directly or indirectly involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company for seven years.

When The Argus contacted the restaurant Mr Hussain was still working at the premises - but insisted he was no longer in charge.

He said the restaurant was now run by a company called Jamal Gong Ltd, but refused to say who the directors were.

Companies House registration reveals Mr Hussain's brother Idris Hussain is the director.

Eleas Hussain told The Argus: "The illegal workers said they would provide me with the information I needed.

When immigration came in and didn't find the information they needed I thought it was the workers responsibility to provide the information.

"It was the guidelines I didn't understand."

Despite his disqualification Mr Hussain was still working at the restaurant this week and answered the phone when contacted by The Argus.

He said: "I'm not longer involved with the business obviously.

"I'm working in the kitchen."

However, the restaurant's website includes many references to Eleas Hussain and his wife Rheea running the family business and no mention of Idris by name.

Martin Gitner, deputy head of investigations with the Insolvency Service said: "Illegal workers are not protected under employment law, and as well as cheating legitimate job seekers out of employment opportunities these employers defraud the tax payer and undercut honest competitors.

"The public has a right to expect that those who break the law will face the consequences and this should serve as a warning to other directors tempted to take on illegal staff."