THREE illegal workers are under investigation after an immigration squad raided a beauty salon in Oxford.

Checks carried out by the Home Office revealed that the three Malaysian women were working without permit at the Hair and Nail Illusion bar on Oxford Street, Cowley.

Two of them, aged 35 and 38, had overstayed their visas, while the third, also aged 38, had an outstanding application which did not entitle her to work. 

The Malaysian nationals, who were not detained by the officers, now have to regularly report to Immigration Enforcement while their cases are progressed.

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Owner of Hair and Nail Illusion Cecilia Lin, however, argued that the women were not employees of the business. 

She claimed that one of them was a customer, one was a friend of hers visiting from Malaysia and one was a worker at a nearby restaurant.

Ms Lin was served a civil penalty referral notice warning that a financial penalty of up to £20,000 per illegal worker found will be issued unless she can demonstrate that appropriate right-to-work document checks were carried out.

If proof is not provided, this is a potential total of up to £60,000.