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Restaurateur and Executive Chef “Off The Menu” for fourteen and six years

Government Communications (NDS)

2 March 2011

Mahmood Hashmi and Alistair Sampson have been banned for fourteen years and six years respectively as a result of their involvement in the failure of four restaurant businesses in the Leeds and Harrogate areas following an investigation by the Insolvency Service’s Company Investigations Team in Manchester.Mr Hashmi, of Alwoodley, Leeds, was found to have contravened an undertaking signed by him on 15 July 2003 not to manage or in any way control a company or be a director for a period of eight years, commencing 08 August 2003, by being involved in the management of Bellini’s Restaurant Limited, Boomtown Limited, Campagna Restaurants (Leeds) Limited, and Julden Limited, which all entered into Creditors Voluntary Liquidation (“CVL”) between January and July 2008, with a combined deficiency to creditors of £694,840. Having acted whilst disqualified Mr Hashmi is now also personally liable for these debts.Claire Entwistle , Head of Company Investigations North commented “ The disqualification regime exists to protect others from the improper actions of directors . As this case demonstrates, The Insolvency Service will deal robustly with those found to have acted in the management of a company while disqualified”The Insolvency Service found that Mr Hashmi, whilst not formally appointed as a director of the four companies, was sufficiently involved in the management and decision making of the companies to be considered to have acted as a director of all four companies, which traded as Bellini’s Restaurant at 437 Otley Road, Leeds, LS16 7NR, Fat Franco’s Restaurant, 106/108 New Road Side, Horsforth, Leeds, LS18 4QB, Da Mario’s Restaurant, 105-107 The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 5JW, and Pinnochio’s Restaurant, Empire Building, Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate. The Insolvency Service’s investigation also found that Mr Hashmi and Alistair Sampson, of Leeds, had caused or allowed monies totalling £86,500 received by Boomtown Limited in respect of the sale of the Fat Franco’s Restaurant to be paid to connected parties to the detriment of its creditors. Ends