November 12, 2019 11.54 am This story is over 53 months old

Police chiefs fight license transfer to “man who went on the run”

The police believe the applicant and one who appeared in court in Swindon are the same person
Aram Salar is applying again to take over the alcohol licence for Delicja, on Westlode Street, Spalding. Photo: Google

Lincolnshire Police have objected to the transfer of an alcohol licence to a man who went on the run to Iraq for five years after facing charges of trademark breaches and money laundering.

Aram Salar, of Westlode Street, in Spalding, is looking to take the premises licence for Delicja off the hands of Mohammad Salih Attuf.

However, Lincolnshire Police believe Mr Salar is the same man who fled the country while Swindon Borough Council were investigating his dealings at a Manchester Road shop in 2012.

South Holland District Council’s licensing committee will examine the application on Thursday.

A report before members say: “Lincolnshire Police believes the evidence shows there are some serious concerns with Mr Salar and if the transfer is granted the prevention of crime licensing objectives will be undermined.”

Evidence from local newspapers and Trading Standards show a joint enforcement visit at Istanbul Market in July 2011 found non-duty paid and foreign tobacco.

At the time Mr Salar, described as the owner, denied the items were his and said he had rented the shop from the premises licence holder.

He said he had been running the business for a month, having previously owned a shop in Leicester.

In February 2012, further investigations found foreign labelled cigarettes and tobacco under the floorboards of his home address – leading to the arrest of Mr Salar and another.

However, in October 2012, he failed to attend a court date and a warrant was issued.

South Holland District Council’s licensing committee is set to examine the application on Thursday. Photo: Daniel Jaines

Five years later, he was arrested when re-entering the country in June 2017.

However, the council at that point could offer no evidence due to witnesses having left the council’s employment and other “difficulties”.

Mr Salar, who at that time gave the court an address in Bradford, West Yorkshire, denied the charges and was instead given a two month jail sentence for failing to surrender to custody.

Lincolnshire Police has previously objected to three licence transfer applications due to their concerns of criminal involvement.

They have also previously called for the licence to be reviewed due to allegations of non-compliance, illegal working and concerns in relation to beer pricing.

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