Melbourne sushi bar owner slapped with $40k fine after cockroaches found throughout shop

A Melbourne sushi bar owner has been fined $40,000 for extensive food safety breaches at her shop.

Sarah Nguyen, 36, pleaded guilty to 16 charges for substandard practices at Isuki on Church Street in Brighton.

Council inspectors cited 11 non-compliant inspections at the premises over 11 months.

Issues described range from cockroaches discovered throughout the shop and inside a flour container, to unclean, mouldy and grimy surfaces, unrefrigerated chicken, sushi stored above regulated temperatures and the storage of pest control products near soy sauce.

The sushi bar was raided after a customer complained to council.

Council prosecutors say the outlet was a public safety risk and a significant penalty was warranted.

Ms Nguyen's lawyer told the court that the client was distracted by “personal difficulties”, pleading the business had already suffered enough.

After viewing more than 200 photos documenting safety standard non-compliance, the magistrate convicted and fined the business $25,000 and Ms Nyugen $15,000.

As the sole proprietor however, she will be footing the entire bill.

The business has passed council inspections since February and is still operating, although profits have dropped significantly.