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 unbeknown 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
