Restaurant owner facing charges (From York Press)

Restaurant owner facing charges

9:17am Tuesday 23rd October 2012 in News

A YORK restaurant owner has denied immigration and religious abuse charges involving an asylum seeker from Afghanistan.

Vincenzo Fuccio, 43, is alleged to have committed a series of offences at La Vecchia Scuola in Low Petergate last August.

The allegations centre on Mahmood Yaqubi, whom the prosecution claim comes from Afghanistan and is currently seeking asylum in the UK.

Fuccio, of Low Petergate, is alleged to have employed Mr Yaqubi between August 1 and August 18 knowing that he was forbidden to work under immigration rules because he is seeking asylum.

Fuccio denies that Mr Yaqubi ever worked for him.

Fuccio also currently faces alternative charges for the illegal employment allegation brought under different immigration laws, but is only expected to face one at trial.

The 43-year-old is also alleged to have been aggressively abusive in a religious way towards Mr Yaqubi at the restaurant by using a swear word coupled with the name Allah and to have made another religiously objectionable remark.

Fuccio denies saying the words and the charge brought under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

The religious abuse is alleged to have occurred on August 17, the same day on which Fuccio is alleged to have assaulted Mr Yaqubi.

The restaurant owner denies the charge and claims he acted within the law in his dealing with Mr Yaqubi.

Fuccio pleaded guilty to a charge of using offensive and racist words at Fulford Road Police Station custody suite on August 17.

The charges to which Fuccio pleaded not guilty were adjourned for a trial on January 18 before York magistrates. He was released on unconditional bail.