UK Wedding News
22/03/2012
The pair, Andzelina Surmaj, a 30-year-old Polish woman and Milan Cina, a 38-year-old Czech man, were jailed following their guilty pleas to immigration offences linked to sham marriages in Lancashire and Greater Manchester between December 2008 and July 2009.
A sham marriage typically occurs when a non-European national marries someone from the European Economic Area, or the UK, as a means of attempting to gain long-term residency and the right to work and claim benefits in this country.
The investigators were alerted to possible sham marriages after clergy in Accrington suspected abuse and discovered that certain couples had falsely declared residing in the parish area and provided fraudulent documents.
The UK Border Agency investigated and uncovered a string of suspected sham marriages which had taken place at 2 churches in Accrington between December 2008 and July 2009.
Further enquiries by our officers revealed the marriage organisers were Cina and Surmaj. In addition to the Accrington churches they had organised phoney weddings in Levenshulme and Clayton le Moors.
Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "Today's sentencing sends a clear message to anyone considering breaking our immigration laws that Britain is no longer a soft touch.
"These organisers have systematically abused the immigration system and placed a huge pressure on the public purse at a time when the country can least afford it.
"The UK Border Agency is taking strong action to crack down on sham marriages nationwide. Our message could not be clearer - we will not tolerate immigration abuse and offenders will be caught."
Dave Magrath, head of the criminal and financial immigration (CFI) team, North West, UK Border Agency said: "This case shows the desperate nature of immigration crime with large sums of money changing hands and people being prepared to enter into a full marriage with someone they barely know simply to cheat the immigration system.
"Surmaj and Cina showed a complete disregard for our immigration laws and today they have paid the price for their actions.
"The UK Border Agency is taking strong action to tackle those involved in sham marriage ensuring that they are brought to justice. Our main aim is to identify the organisers who profit from and fuel the demand for sham marriages.
"The UK Border Agency is working closely with the church and registrars to identify marriages that may not be genuine. We do not expect vicars or registrars to be experts in immigration law or spotting forged documents - that's our job. But if they have any suspicions about whether a relationship is genuine, we would urge them to get in touch with us or contact Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111."
Andzelina Surmaj was sentenced in her absence to a total 3 years eight months for conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a non-EU person and assisting with the organising sham marriages. A warrant has been issued for her arrest after she failed to attend court.
Milan Cina was sentenced to a total of 5 years for conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a non-EU person and acting as a witness assisting with the organising sham marriages.
The churches in which the marriages took place are, St Peters Parish Church, Accrington, St Andrews Church, Accrington, St Peters, Levenshulme and All Saints, Clayton le Mooors.
(GK)
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Sham Marriage Conspirators Jailed
Two sham marriage organisers, responsible for staging bogus weddings across the North West, have been jailed at Burnley Crown Court today.The pair, Andzelina Surmaj, a 30-year-old Polish woman and Milan Cina, a 38-year-old Czech man, were jailed following their guilty pleas to immigration offences linked to sham marriages in Lancashire and Greater Manchester between December 2008 and July 2009.
A sham marriage typically occurs when a non-European national marries someone from the European Economic Area, or the UK, as a means of attempting to gain long-term residency and the right to work and claim benefits in this country.
The investigators were alerted to possible sham marriages after clergy in Accrington suspected abuse and discovered that certain couples had falsely declared residing in the parish area and provided fraudulent documents.
The UK Border Agency investigated and uncovered a string of suspected sham marriages which had taken place at 2 churches in Accrington between December 2008 and July 2009.
Further enquiries by our officers revealed the marriage organisers were Cina and Surmaj. In addition to the Accrington churches they had organised phoney weddings in Levenshulme and Clayton le Moors.
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Immigration Minister Damian Green said: "Today's sentencing sends a clear message to anyone considering breaking our immigration laws that Britain is no longer a soft touch.
"These organisers have systematically abused the immigration system and placed a huge pressure on the public purse at a time when the country can least afford it.
"The UK Border Agency is taking strong action to crack down on sham marriages nationwide. Our message could not be clearer - we will not tolerate immigration abuse and offenders will be caught."
Dave Magrath, head of the criminal and financial immigration (CFI) team, North West, UK Border Agency said: "This case shows the desperate nature of immigration crime with large sums of money changing hands and people being prepared to enter into a full marriage with someone they barely know simply to cheat the immigration system.
"Surmaj and Cina showed a complete disregard for our immigration laws and today they have paid the price for their actions.
"The UK Border Agency is taking strong action to tackle those involved in sham marriage ensuring that they are brought to justice. Our main aim is to identify the organisers who profit from and fuel the demand for sham marriages.
"The UK Border Agency is working closely with the church and registrars to identify marriages that may not be genuine. We do not expect vicars or registrars to be experts in immigration law or spotting forged documents - that's our job. But if they have any suspicions about whether a relationship is genuine, we would urge them to get in touch with us or contact Crimestoppers: 0800 555 111."
Andzelina Surmaj was sentenced in her absence to a total 3 years eight months for conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a non-EU person and assisting with the organising sham marriages. A warrant has been issued for her arrest after she failed to attend court.
Milan Cina was sentenced to a total of 5 years for conspiracy to facilitate a breach of UK immigration law by a non-EU person and acting as a witness assisting with the organising sham marriages.
The churches in which the marriages took place are, St Peters Parish Church, Accrington, St Andrews Church, Accrington, St Peters, Levenshulme and All Saints, Clayton le Mooors.
(GK)
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