INDIAN Tavern Tandoori Restaurant in Bendigo had two pest controllers working to eradicate a rat infestation on its premises, a court has heard.
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Avta Chatha and Ribina Jalill, operating under AS and RJ Proprietary Limited, faced 24 charges for breaching food standards.
The charges include failing to comply with the Food Standards Code and handling food in a manner rendered unsuitable, spanning a 12-month period.The court heard the pair opened the restaurant in December 2002 after running a successful restaurant in Wagga Wagga.
Defence solicitor Peter Chadwick SC said Mr Chatha, 60, experienced a number of personal issues which “distracted him from his duties” from the end of 2011.
His mother died in India in 2011 and Ms Jalil’s granddaughter was diagnosed with cancer in the second half of 2012.
“He took his eye off the day-to-day management of the business,” Mr Chadwick said. “The demands of two businesses proved too much.”
Mr Chatha called two pest controllers in September 2012 to eradicate a rat plague in the restaurant.
He was told the rats had nested in a vacant building next door.
Mr Chadwick said there had been no pests in the building since January and any rodent faeces had been cleared.
He also said Mr Chatha and key staff members had been retrained in safe food handling, and cleaning schedules had been reinstated. Mr Chadwick said Mr Chatha had already paid a significant price for his negligence.
“It’s been an expensive mistake for him in legal fees and embarrassment,” he said.
Each charge carries a maximum penalty of $200,000 for the company, and $40,000 for the individual.
The case was adjourned to July 22 so Magistrate Peter Lauritsen could consider the evidence.
