Man falsely sold halal meat to restaurants, jury told

A food wholesaler has been accused of falsely distributing chicken as halal meat, a jury has heard.

Hamil Miah, 46, of Kilcredaun House, Cardiff was the owner of Universal Food Wholesale Limited.

Alex Greenwood, prosecuting, told Merthyr Crown Court, that there was "no policy or procedures" at the company with no "due diligence" being done to label the food products.

Benjamin Waidhofer, defending, said Mr Miah had denied buying or supplying any meat that was not halal.

Mr Miah said his company Universal Food Wholesale Limited had supplied dried foods and soft drinks "but not chicken" to several companies across south Wales.

Restaurants and takeaways in Cardiff, Newport and Blaenau Gwent that were supplied by the company were named in court.

The prosecution said that Mr Miah had previously told law enforcement officers that a separate company dealt with the sale of halal chicken.

Universal Poultry was owned by "childhood friend" Noaf Rahman, according to Mr Miah, adding that Mr Rahman was doing him a "favour" by becoming director of the company.

The prosecution asked Mr Miah if this was done because he was disqualified to be a company director.

Mr Miah told the court that the people employed in the cutting room, where the chicken was prepared, should be held responsible.

He said if they were "lazy or dishonest" it was something that "he couldn't control".

Mr Greenwood said these companies were "just badges of convenience behind which you hide".

He added that the companies existed to make it "impossible" to know you were selling the products.

Mr Greenwood asked if the two companies were in competition with each other as two separate food wholesalers.

Mr Miah denied this saying "there is no competition".

"Each business has their own customers," he added.

Mr Waidhofer took the jury through the business accounts of Universal Food Wholesale Limited.

He asked Mr Miah why he told clients he traded under a former company called GNA Chicken.

He said that he "passed everything" that he previously owned at GNA Chicken on to his business partner Mr Rahman.

Mr Miah denied making any orders or liaising with any suppliers under the name of GNA Chicken.

Mr Waidhofer asked him if a forensic was needed to prove that the meat was halal.

He declined adding: "Whatever I buy and sell is halal."

The trial continues.