THE co-owner of a Chinese restaurant raided by immigration officials bought a flat to house illegal workers with a fake mortgage, it has been claimed.

IPSWICH: The co-owner of a Chinese restaurant raided by immigration officials bought a flat to house illegal workers with a fake mortgage, it has been claimed.

Yung Pun obtained a loan of �130,500 for a property in Silk Street, Ipswich, after allegedly submitting a fraudulent mortgage application, a court has been told.

The 28-year-old, along with his father Phing Pun, mother Kim Wong, sister Siow Yin Pun and family friend Ai Ong deny conspiring to facilitate the breach of UK immigration law.

It is alleged the family employed illegal immigrant workers at two restaurants in Ipswich - Temptation Chinese Buffet, in Carr Street, and The Lucky Star Takeaway, in Hawthorn Drive.

Yesterday, Ipswich Crown Court was told how Yung Pun had taken out a self-certified mortgage for a flat in Silk Street in August 2007.

On the application, which he made through a mortgage advisor, Yung Pun said he had a salary of �52,500 and owned more than 25 per cent of the family business, which also included a second Lucky Star Takeaway, in Capel St Mary.

Earlier in the trial, the jury was told how Phing Pun had set off a fire alarm to frustrate the efforts of police and immigration officials searching for illegal immigrant workers.

Prosecutor Karim Khalil QC claims the workers were housed in two properties in Silk Street, which had been purchased by Phing Pun and Yung Pun with money allegedly obtained by fraudulent mortgage applications.

Photographs of bunk beds and mattresses on the floors of the premises and rails holding restaurant uniforms which were allegedly used by the illegal workers were shown to the court.

Mr Khalil also claimed that Ong and members of the Pun family were involved in the sale of counterfeit goods through shop premises called Temptations Accessories Ltd in Ipswich and Colchester.

Phing Pun, Siow Yin Pun, Ai Ong and Siow Chee Pun have all denied conspiring to sell goods which infringe copyright and trademark.

Phing Pun, Kim Wong, Siow Yin Pun, Yung Pun and Ai Ong have each denied charges of converting criminal property.

Phing Pun has also denied obtaining a �198,000 money transfer by deception while Yung Pun has denied an offence of fraud.

The trial continues today.