The Canberra Times reports the former wife of a man accused of operating ”slum” boarding houses has been fined for running a restaurant so unclean, hair conditioner was substituted for hand soap.

But Li Wei’s $10,000 fine may be unenforceable – the mother of two left for China after separating from her husband, Qiang Hua Fan, also known as Jason Fan.

Fan has pleaded not guilty in the ACT Magistrates Court to 10 charges linked to five rental properties shut down last year.

Within days of the houses being shut down, health inspectors conducted a routine check on the Charnwood Tai Ping Chinese restaurant.

According to a statement of facts tendered in court, investigators at first found the premises so dirty, the restaurant was immediately shut down for two weeks, and only reopened after authorities gave it the all clear.

Two public health officers described the walls, floor and equipment in the food preparation and storage areas as ”unclean with a large amount of visible food particles, grease and oil-soaked cardboard’.’

”Food was stored uncovered in bowls on dirty shelves and left in trays on flour containers,” the statement detailed.

”The handwashing basin did not contain a single-use towel or equivalent facility to effectively dry hands.

”Additionally, the handwash basin was only provided with hair conditioner, not soap, was not easily accessible, and had items stored on and around it.”