by Jenni Horn

jhorn@thekmgroup.co.uk

The former owner of a Chinese takeaway has been jailed after he
admitted exposing the public to a serious risk of electrocution,
food poisoning and gas explosion.

Zhi Hua Zhao, 52, who ran the Chung Wah Express in
Luton Road, Chatham, pleaded guilty to 10 separate food safety
and health and safety offences at Maidstone Crown Court on
Friday, in a prosecution brought by Medway Council.

Zhao was jailed for 28 days, banned from running a food business
anywhere in the UK and ordered to pay £2,000 towards the council’s
legal costs.

The case followed a series of visits by environmental
health officers between September 2007 and February 2009.

During this time, the court heard, the premises was visited 16
times and 23 legal notices served, including:

- Five health and safety prohibition notices

- Two health and safety improvement notices and

- 16 food hygiene improvement notices

The offences included:

- A failure to train food handlers

- Failure to ensure the health, safety and welfare of
employees.

- Failure to maintain an electrical installation in a safe
condition.

- Failure to keep the premises clean.

- Failure to have in place a documented food safety management
system.

- Failure to comply with four hygiene improvement notices.

- Failure to comply with a health and safety prohibition
notice.

Cllr Mike O’Brien, Medway Council’s portfolio holder for community safety and enforcement, said the conditions found at the Chung Wah Express were the among the worst seen by the Council in recent years.

He added: "The kitchen and food preparation areas were found in
a filthy state with bodged electrics and gas repairs that left
untouched could so easily have resulted in disastrous and tragic
consequences."

Summing up His Honour Judge Martin Joy described the conditions
as "shocking".

The premises has now reopened under new ownership.