JAN 18: Twenty-five Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in London have been
convicted and sentenced to jail for arranging "marriages of
convenience" of desis with British nationals in order to let
them gain entry into Britain.
A total of 36 weddings took place, with some taking place in
England and some in India.The court heard the ceremonies were set up in an attempt to
beat the UK immigration system.
One of the bogus brides connected with the case married as many
as six men over a five-year period.
Delivering the sentence, Judge Simon Hammond said:
"Clearly this was a well-planned and sophisticated operation
involving recruitment of stooges in this country. Some were flown
to India and there was substantial funding.
"It was a team job requiring different roles. Everyone knew
that what they were doing was unlawful. It was cheating and it
prejudiced genuine candidates.
"The sentence must reflect the public need to deter others in
what was for some a very lucrative scam.
"The motive for the UK citizens was money and for the Indian
nationals was entry into the UK and to remain in the UK.",
the judge added.
Fourteen of the defendants jailed were women, many single
mothers who had been put under financial stress or were pressured
by the ringleaders to go through with the bogus ceremonies.
Ringleaders Salim Mullan, 50, from
Leicester and Ibrahim Umerji, 66, from East Ham, London, both
non-resident Indians, were
jailed for four years each after they admitted helping illegal
immigrants enter the country through sham marriages.
Twenty-three other NRIs received jail terms of up to three years
for their part in the racket. One woman was given a suspended
sentence.
Mullan's wife, Jahara, was jailed for one year after pleading
guilty to money laundering. She had nearly 80,000 pounds in two
bank accounts, according to court records.
The sentencing comes in the backdrop of latest legislation on
foreign marriages. Foreigners born outside the
European Union have been banned from marrying in four London
boroughs in a new drive against bogus marriages.
Official figures
show there have been more than 6,000 sham marriages since a
clampdown was promised in 2002. But registrars estimate that as
many as 25,000 could be taking place every year.
In 2001, 756 sham marriages were reported by registrars. Since
2002, there have been more than 6,000 - but only 110 people have
been charged.
Criminal gangs charge up to 10,000 pounds to arrange a
ceremony, paying "brides" or "grooms" up to 2,000.
The problem is particularly bad in London, where up to one in five
civil ceremonies are thought to be fake, reports a UK newspaper. Immigrants who want to marry in London will have to undergo
intensive questioning at one of the 76 designated register offices.
(Despardes News Monitor)
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