8 Year Directorship Ban Dished Up For Restauranteur's Inadequate Records

Monday, 22 August 2016 14:00

An Aberdeenshire director has been disqualified for failing to ensure her restaurant company kept adequate books and records.

Mrs Ambia Begum, (28), director of Lochnagar Indian Brasserie, a licensed Indian restaurant in Ballater, has been disqualified from being a director for 8 years, following an investigation by the Insolvency Service.

At a hearing in Aberdeen Sheriff Court the Sheriff made an eight year order against Ambia Begum, which began on 16 March 2016. The Disqualification prevents Ambia Begum from directly or indirectly becoming involved in the promotion, formation or management of a company for the duration of the order.

On 1 July 2014 Lochnagar Indian Brasserie, with debts of £424,962, was placed into compulsory liquidation following a winding up petition lodged by HM Revenue and Customs. Ambia Begum was the sole director of Lochnagar Indian Brasserie at that time.

Following the Liquidator’s appointment, the investigation found that from 1 December 2011 to 1 July 2014, the company’s books were inadequate, thereby not making it possible to:

Verify expenditure from the company bank account totalling £276,783.
Verify whether receipts into the company bank account, of £276,783, were a true representation of the sales achieved by the company, especially as, due to the nature of the business, a significant proportion of the sales were likely to have been cash.
Verify whether the company owned, or had disposed of, any assets and if so, what their value was.
Establish the true level of liabilities owed to H M Revenue and Customs Establish whether the company should have been registered for PAYE and NIC

Robert Clarke, Head of Company Investigation at the Insolvency Service said:

Directors who operate cash based businesses have to maintain sufficient records to explain where these monies have gone and following insolvency make sure that such records are delivered up for scrutiny by the relevant bodies.

By failing to do this the public can not be sure that all funds received by the company were used for legitimate purposes. The substantial period of this disqualification reflects the fact that when a company fails to keep adequate financial records it is simply not possible to determine whether there has been other, more serious, impropriety in relation to the management of its affairs.

More from Local and National News

Appeal After Burglary

Police are appealing for witnesses after a burglary at a property in Bradford.
Have your say and help to build stronger communities in Calderdale

People in Calderdale are being asked to share their thoughts about how they feel connected to their local neighbourhood and the wider Calderdale area
Bradford to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day

Bradford City Hall is to be lit up in red, white, and blue on Thursday 6 June to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
New bridge and new routes now open as project progresses

The new link road on the A629 south of Halifax is now open, as part of work to improve the flow of traffic and make it easier to walk, cycle or take public transport.
City presents Windrush pioneer with prestigious Leeds Award

one of the nation’s last surviving HMT Empire Windrush passengers and the city’s only remaining Caribbean Second World War serviceman received the Leeds Award in a ceremony at the Civic Hall.
More Than 10,000 Arrests Made By Team Dedicated To Reducing Violent Crime

A specialist team working to reduce violent crime has started a New Year by passing a new milestone after making more than 10,000 arrests.
Plate expectations as historic registration could be up for sale

A unique gift exchanged by two former Lord Mayors of Leeds more than 120 years ago could be about to help the city with unprecedented budget challenges.
Calderdale: Celebrating over 350 years of service at Council

Fourteen Calderdale Council employees have been recognised for a combined total of over 350 years of service at an event at Halifax Town Hall on Thursday 26 October.
Activists who caused £100,000 worth of damage sentenced

A group of activists who caused £100,000 worth of damage to a service station on the M25 has been sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Friday (27 October)
Appeal Following Collision and Death of Man in Otley, Leeds

Police are appealing for witnesses to a collision in Leeds in which a man later died.
Vehicle involved in fly tipping across West and North Yorkshire seized by Bradford Council

A vehicle involved in multiple incidences of fly tipping across West and North Yorkshire has been seized by Bradford Council.
Anti-social behaviour funding boost in Clitheroe, Colne and Darwen

As part of the county-wide crackdown on anti-social behaviour (ASB) Lancashire Constabulary and Police and Crime Commissioner Andrew Snowden have announced a further eight areas set to benefit from additional resources to tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) in Lancashire.

Listener Club

Get more with the Listener Club!

Bhangra Nights

Get over the Weekday blues - Every Tuesday night is party night with the best Bhangra and Urban Asian Beats. The Bhangra Show every Tuesday between 8pm-11pm
Legal Show

Once a fortnight we dedicate a show to discussing legal issues and family / matrimonial law in particular. Alternate Friday mornings between 9am-11pm.
Alim OnAir

Have you a question about the religious, cultural or tradition aspect of Islam? Then join Hazrat Maulana Fazal Dad in the weekly show every Friday between 8-9pm.
Remix Saturdays

Every Saturday evening we turn to remixes of hit songs to get you in the Saturday night party mood! Every Saturday between 5pm - 8pm