Immigrant in Norwich food van accused of illegal working

Longquan Ni is accused of illegally working for Norwich-based Chinese food wholesalers Hu Li Hang <i>(Image: Newsquest/Google)</i>
Longquan Ni is accused of illegally working for Norwich-based Chinese food wholesalers Hu Li Hang (Image: Newsquest/Google)
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An immigrant has been accused of illegally working in the UK after being found in a food delivery van during a police stop.

Longquan Ni, 45, was found in the passenger seat of the vehicle when officers pulled it over on Dereham Road in Norwich.

Norwich Magistrates’ Court was told immigration checks had discovered he was unable to legally work as his application for asylum had been refused and he was currently subject to a Home Office appeal.

Prosecutors said it was alleged he had been working as a driver for Hu Li Hang, a wholesale warehouse for a wide range of Chinese supermarket products based on the Sweet Briar Road Industrial Estate.

Ni, of Kingsway, Mildenhall, who followed proceedings through a Mandarin interpreter, pleaded not guilty to working when disqualified by reason of immigration status.

Calvin Sacker, defending, said he would argue he had not been working and had merely been a passenger when stopped on June 3.

Ni was given unconditional bail until a trial at Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court on October 5.

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