This is the
dramatic moment home office investigators put a stop to a sham marriage just
minutes before the bride and groom exchanged their vows.
Nigerian Chinedu Amadi arrived at Leicester Registry Office to marry a complete stranger - Hungarian national Szilvia Basco-Porkolab, who donned a traditional white wedding gown for the occasion.
But unknown to them Home Office investigators who were tipped off by a suspicious registrar and lay in wait in a side room for the pair to arrive. These pictures show the moment the 'couple' were told they had been caught and were arrested. Shit mehn! Lol. Continue...
Amadi, a
Nigerian student, paid £5,000 to an unknown 'fixer' to arrange the bogus
wedding with an EU national to allow him to stay in the UK. After their arrest,
investigators discovered Basco-Porkolab was involved in an earlier sham
marriage to another Nigerian, Ikechukwu Egbe, at Greta Green in May 2011.
Basco-Porkolab, 38, living in Leicester,
admitted two counts of conspiracy to breach immigration laws relating to sham
marriages, and was jailed for 34 months.
Amadi, 27, of Livingstone Road, Gillingham,
admitted a similar count and was jailed for 20 months.
Egbe, 34, of Narborough Road, Leicester,
was convicted of one offence of conspiracy, and jailed for 30 months.
A fourth person, Rubin Durgos 39, admitted
conspiracy, in the intended sham marriage of Amadi. She was to be the bride,
before Basco-Porkolab stepped in at the last minute.
Durgos, a Hungarian, of Forest Road,
Coalville, Leicestershire, was jailed for 20 months.
Sentencing at Leicester Crown Court, Judge
Philip Head said: 'What you did in your own ways was to cheat all those who
loyally and honestly abide by the system.'
Andy Radcliffe, a Home Office inspector,
said after the case: 'These were brazen attempts to trample over both the
immigration laws and the institution of marriage
'Amadi had such contempt for the law that he felt he could
change his bride during the process of organising the wedding and still get
away with it. Durgos and Porkolab thought they could marry as often as they
liked. They were wrong.
'The message is clear - immigration abuse
will not be tolerated and we will take the strongest possible action against
those involved.
'We work closely with registrars across the
region and our dedicated crime teams will continue to make life as tough as
possible for those who seek to abuse the immigration system.'
Neil Bannister, prosecuting, told the
court: 'The offences came to light with the intended marriage, initially,
between Durgos and Amadi.
'Both attended Leicester Registry Office to
give their notice of intention to marry, on October 21. They met the deputy superintendent
registrar for Leicester, Debra Webster.
'Mrs Webster recognised Durgos as someone
she knew as Rita Durgos, a Hungarian who had acted as an interpreter for more
than one marriage.
'These marriages involved Hungarians and
nationals from countries outside the European Economic Area.
'Mrs Webster became suspicious as to
whether Durgos and Amadi were going to enter a genuine marriage.
'Durgos struggled to pronounce the first name of Amadi and he struggled to remember his address.
'Mrs Webster also thought the couple were being excessively
affectionate and gained the impression they were trying too hard to demonstrate
they were a couple.
'Arrangements were made for a marriage on January 19.
'On that date, a woman claiming to be Rubin Durgos turned up
but Mrs Webster did not recognise her. It is not known who that woman was.
'Amadi was an hour late and missed the ceremony, so a further
date was arranged for 2pm on February 14.'
By then Mrs Webster had alerted the authorities.
Mr Bannister added: 'Meanwhile, information came to light
Durgos had been married to a Godwin Okechuku, a Nigerian, on July 4, 2008, at
Christ the King Church, Beaumont Leys, Leicester.'
On February 14, Mrs Webster noted the bride was different
from Durgos and the woman who attended on January 19.
When arrested in a wedding dress, she initially told officers
she was attending as a witness.
In mitigation, the court heard Egbe and Amadi had entered the
UK legitimately on student visas, which had not expired.
Egbe enrolled at Leicester Business Academy, which then closed and he was concerned his visa would be revoked.
He was 'desperate' to stay in the country, the court heard.
All the defendants are likely to be deported after their
sentences.
Culled from Daily Mail UK
