Two Cardiff men have been sentenced for fraudulently supplying non-halal chicken to restaurants and takeaways across South Wales, deceiving customers and violating food safety regulations.
Helim Miah, 46, owner of Universal Food Wholesale Limited, was sentenced to four years and eight months in prison for fraudulent trading and operating while bankrupt.
His co-defendant, Noaf Rahman, also 46, admitted to the offences before trial and received a 24-month suspended sentence.
The operation was uncovered after an investigation by Cardiff and the Vale Shared Regulatory Services in 2019, which led to the seizure of 2,840kg of frozen meat from the pair’s Cardiff warehouse.
The investigation revealed that for five years, unsuspecting customers were unknowingly consuming non-halal meat due to the pair’s fraudulent practices.
Prosecutor Alex Greenwood outlined in court that the meat sold to restaurants and takeaways was not properly traceable, with altered sell-by dates and improper chilling during transport.
The businesses involved were under the impression they were receiving halal meat, when in reality, much of it had been processed alongside non-halal products in unsanitary conditions.
Some of the chicken initially bought as halal meat was contaminated by non-halal items in the warehouse’s “cutting room.” The defendants continued to supply these products, misleading the public and businesses alike, even when halal supplies were not being received.
Judge Vanessa Francis condemned the pair’s actions, stating their “cavalier attitude” and the extensive harm caused by their actions.
“This was a disaster waiting to happen,” she remarked, noting the potential risks of the unsafe meat distributed. She added that the societal impact was “difficult to quantify,” highlighting the gravity of the deceitful scheme.
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