Car wash king Anthony Sahade has been caught underpaying hundreds of vulnerable workers at his chain of Crystal Carwash Cafes around Sydney to the tune of almost $180,000.

In the Federal Court on Thursday, Justice Robert Buchanan found the car wash operator short-changed more than 350 employees, mostly young workers from non-English-speaking backgrounds.

Fined: Car wash king Anthony Sahade. Credit:Dean Sewell

He fined Crystal Carwash Cafe Pty Ltd, which operates outlets at Bondi, Brookvale, Chatswood, Coogee, Gladesville, Merrylands, Mosman, Northbridge, Rose Bay, Rushcutters Bay and Strathfield, a total of $70,000.

The company’s director and part-owner Anthony Sahade has been penalised a further $10,000.