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

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 02 March 2011

A Restaurateur and an Executive Chef have been disqualified from acting as company directors or from managing or in any way controlling a company.

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

Notes to Editors

1. Bellini’s Restaurant Limited was incorporated by Mr Hashmi and another on 02 September 1996 and commenced trading in 1996. Boomtown Limited was incorporated by Mr Hashmi and another on 31 January 2001 and commenced trading in 2001. Bellini’s Restaurant Limited ceased to trade on 30 June 2008 and Boomtown Limited ceased to trade on 11 January 2008. Campagna Restaurants (Leeds) Limited was incorporated by unconnected persons in February 1977 and was acquired by a company owned by Mr Hashmi and another in October 2004. Campagna Restaurants (Leeds) Limited ceased to trade on 02 July 2008. Julden Limited was incorporated on 28 July 1977 by unconnected persons, and was acquired by a company owned by Mr Hashmi and another in April 2005. Julden Limited ceased trading on 28 January 2008. 2. Julden Limited entered Creditors Voluntary Liquidation on 28 January 2008. Bellini’s Restaurant Limited, Boomtown Limited and Campagna Restaurants (Leeds) Limited all entered Creditors Voluntary Liquidation on 04 July 2008. 3. Mr Hashmi was formally appointed a director of Bellini’s Restaurant Limited on 12 November 1996 and resigned on 07 August 2003, following his Disqualification Undertaking. Mr Hashmi has never formally been appointed as a director of Boomtown Limited, Campagna Restaurants (Leeds) Limited or Julden Limited. 4. Mr Sampson was appointed a director of Bellini’s Restaurant Limited, Boomtown Limited and Campagna Restaurants (Leeds) Limited on 30 August 2007. 5. The Insolvency Service administers the insolvency regime investigating all compulsory liquidations and individual insolvencies (bankruptcies) through the Official Receiver to establish why they became insolvent. The Service also authorizes and regulates the insolvency profession; deals with disqualification of directors in corporate failures; assesses and pays statutory entitlement to redundancy payments when an employer cannot or will not pay employees; provides banking and investment services for bankruptcy and liquidation estate funds; and advises ministers and other government departments on insolvency law and practice. 6. Further information about the work of The Insolvency Service is available from http://www.insolvency.gov.uk 7. Media Enquiries should be directed to: Denise Rawls, Press Office Manager on 020 7674 6910 or Ade Daramy, Press Officer on 020 7596 6187

Contacts:

Ade Daramy
Phone: 020 7596 6187
ade.daramy@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk

Denise Rawls.
Phone: 020 7674 6910
denise.rawls@insolvency.gsi.gov.uk