Restaurant owner clubs rat to death during health inspection
December 04, 20122:45AM
Health inspectors were horrified by conditions at a kitchen used to prepare food for the Chutney Express in Tooting. Picture: Kate Pugh/ flickr.com Source: Supplied
THE owner of an Indian takeaway restaurant in south London has stunned health inspectors by clubbing a rat to death in front of them.
The Independent newspaper reports that environmental health inspectors from Wandsworth council were checking out the kitchen of the New Chutney Express in Tooting.
As owner Rajakumar Rajalingam showed them around, he spotted a rat and decided to bash it to death, leaving a bloody mess on the floor, as they looked on.
The inspectors also spotted other signs of rodent infestation, including mouse droppings on shelves and gnawed bones in the kitchen and food storage areas.
One of the hygiene inspectors nearly trod on a rat while carrying out the inspection, the council reported on its website.
Council officers said they had never seen anything like it.
"This was a shocking catalogue of hygiene and food safety breaches," said councillor Jonathan Cook. "These premises were in a truly appalling state and posed an unacceptable danger to public health."
Mr Rajalingam was taken to court where he was ordered to pay nearly 20,000 pounds ($30,000) in fines and court costs. He was also sentenced for selling counterfeit Australian wine - Jacob's Creek - at a nearby shop.
The judge at Kingston Crown Court said Mr Rajalingam's behaviour was "disgraceful" and he should be "heartily ashamed".
