UK Wedding News
08/10/2013
According to WalesOnline, Nigerian-born student Ehimhandre Louis Esene and Slovakian Emilia Ginova were due to marry at Pontypridd Register Officer on 22 November 2012. However, suspicions regarding the true nature of the ceremony arose after authority employees noticed the couple "could not communicate with each other".
Rachel Knight, prosecuting at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, said Esene and Ginova – who was also four months pregnant at the time by another man – acted as the bride and groom in a six-strong scam.
The two accused, along with Marian Bardo and Michael Horvath, who Ms Knight said also played a key role in the conspiracy, had all already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law between November 5 and November 23, 2012. Two further members of the group, Marek Hricko, 32, and Nikola Cifrova, 17, have denied the charge.
Ms Knight explained to the jury how Esene's visa was due to run out on 1 November 2012, and in an attempt to stay in the UK he conspired with others to set up a sham marriage.
She said: "These particular individuals realised there was very good money to be made making a sham marriage."
All of the accused, except for Esene, were of Roma gypsy descent.
Esene, she said, was put in touch with Bardo and a £3,000 payment was arranged for the sham marriage. However, it is thought Cifrova allegedly became involved in the scam, alongside her step-father Horvath, in an attempt to cut Bardo out of the deal.
Ms Knight explained: "She [Nikola Cifrova] is sophisticated and intelligent and deeply involved in this conspiracy."
The court also heard how the registrar at Cardiff became suspicious of the couple when they had notified their intent to marry, as they could not communicate with each other.
Rhondda Cynon Taf registration officer at Pontypridd, Donna Davies, is quoted as telling the jury: "There was no interaction at all. The groom tried to touch the bride's knee but she looked very uncomfortable.
"I had been tipped-off. I knew it was a scam."
The case continues.
(JP/CD)
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'Sham Marriage' Case Heard In Court
A court has heard how UK border officials stopped a sham marriage in November last year, following a tip-off.According to WalesOnline, Nigerian-born student Ehimhandre Louis Esene and Slovakian Emilia Ginova were due to marry at Pontypridd Register Officer on 22 November 2012. However, suspicions regarding the true nature of the ceremony arose after authority employees noticed the couple "could not communicate with each other".
Rachel Knight, prosecuting at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court, said Esene and Ginova – who was also four months pregnant at the time by another man – acted as the bride and groom in a six-strong scam.
The two accused, along with Marian Bardo and Michael Horvath, who Ms Knight said also played a key role in the conspiracy, had all already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to facilitate a breach of immigration law between November 5 and November 23, 2012. Two further members of the group, Marek Hricko, 32, and Nikola Cifrova, 17, have denied the charge.
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Ms Knight explained to the jury how Esene's visa was due to run out on 1 November 2012, and in an attempt to stay in the UK he conspired with others to set up a sham marriage.
She said: "These particular individuals realised there was very good money to be made making a sham marriage."
All of the accused, except for Esene, were of Roma gypsy descent.
Esene, she said, was put in touch with Bardo and a £3,000 payment was arranged for the sham marriage. However, it is thought Cifrova allegedly became involved in the scam, alongside her step-father Horvath, in an attempt to cut Bardo out of the deal.
Ms Knight explained: "She [Nikola Cifrova] is sophisticated and intelligent and deeply involved in this conspiracy."
The court also heard how the registrar at Cardiff became suspicious of the couple when they had notified their intent to marry, as they could not communicate with each other.
Rhondda Cynon Taf registration officer at Pontypridd, Donna Davies, is quoted as telling the jury: "There was no interaction at all. The groom tried to touch the bride's knee but she looked very uncomfortable.
"I had been tipped-off. I knew it was a scam."
The case continues.
(JP/CD)
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