Fast food boss tried to bribe jobs inspector

Viet Thang Dam, trading as New Century, of Prospect Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, was spared jail after he pleaded guilty to four charges of breaching the Employment Permits Act.

expired

The 41-year-old, originally from Vietnam, was prosecuted at Dublin District Court after an investigation by an inspector from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

Inspector Derek Molloy told Judge John O'Neill he visited Dam's premises in November 2013 and found a Vietnamese worker whose employment permit had expired.

On May 1 last year, the inspector called Dam and was told the employee no longer worked there.

Mr Molloy carried out another inspection in June 2013 and found the same man and another Vietnamese worker employed at the takeaway without permission. Last October, one of them was again found to be still working there.

Mr Molloy subsequently interviewed Dam and told him he could be facing prosecution. Dam asked the inspector if he would like some of his takings "to make this go away".

Dam admitted he hired two employees who did not have work permits and the offer he made to the inspector led to an additional charge for obstructing the investigation.

Judge O'Neill heard that the father of three has been in business 14 years, worked seven days a week and gave employment to his wife as well as six other part-time workers.

He is now fully compliant. He also knew that his offer to the inspector was unacceptable - it was knee jerk reaction.

Sparing him a sentence, Judge O'Neill took into consideration Dam's guilty plea, the length of time he has been in business and the circumstances of the offences. However, he imposed fines totalling €2,250.

hnews@herald.ie