A BOGUS bride is behind bars after getting paid to marry a stranger so he could stay in Britain. Elizabeth Balogh, 33, was arrested in her wedding dress just minutes before she would have been wed to Pakistan-born Asif Hussain.
Hungarian Balogh was posing as his bride to allow him to stay in Britain after his visa ran out after being recruited by her cousin.
But their registrar became suspicious when they turned up to book the wedding because the couple did not talk to each other as Balogh could not speak English.
She tipped off officials who were waiting to arrest the duo on their wedding. Blonde Balogh, who was paid £400 for her part in the sham, initially told cops she did want to marry Hussain, 25, and claimed: “It was love at first sight.”
But she later admitted her cousin Valerie Farkas had set everything up and was interpreting for them.
Hywel Hughes, prosecuting, told Cardiff Crown Court: “These three set out and entered into what was a sham marriage.”They entered at the registry office in Cardiff in order to register their intent to get married. “Balogh and Hussain were due to marry and Farkas was to play the role of interpreter for Balogh, who didn’t speak English.”
He added: “It was apparent to the registrar that there was very little verbal communication between the bride and groom.
“It struck the registrar as very odd that they wanted to get married as quickly as possible and the wedding was booked for three weeks later.”
The court also heard how Hussain paid £800 to a third party to arrange the wedding and gave £400 to Balogh after his student visa ran out.
All three admitted conspiracy to breach immigration law.
Judge Neil Bidder QC jailed Hussain, of Cardiff, for 12 months.
Balogh was given ten months and Farkas six months. Both live in Manchester.
The judge said: “The registrar became suspicious that this was a fraud and a scam although it didn’t require her to be very perceptive as Balogh and Hussain were unable to communicate with each other.
“They didn’t share a common language and Farkas was needed to interpret.
“Not one of you realised how transparent a shame this was.
“You all told police a pack of lies and Balogh telling them it was love at first sight was an outrageous lie.”
Chris Lovejoy, of the UK Border Agency’s immigration crime team, said: “Asif Hussain saw this sham marriage as a shortcut to a life in the UK.
“Instead, he has earned himself a significant spell behind bars.
“This case shows how people are prepared to enter into a marriage with someone they barely know to help them cheat the immigration system in exchange for cash.
“The UK Border Agency is cracking down on sham marriages and those who seek to cheat immigration laws face jail.”
BRIDE And Groom Jailed For FAKE Wedding To Get VISA added by on
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Shame!
yaba Congolese do this in Zambia everyday
These “fake marriages” are everywhere, especially in these developed nations. I would rather marry for LOVE than doing so inorder to simply get a visa! Despite the fact that the truth does SOMETIMES land us into trouble, more often than not the truth does set us free! Lying can set you “free” in the short term, but in the long term you’ll be found out and be publicly named and shamed! Is it worth it?!
people-are-desperate-settle-abroad-that-nothing-matters-in-thier-pursuit.
LEt them be caged. bad manners
I hope they never slept 2gether.
Eco mulefulila abakashana pa Ndola! Iwe waya mukutontonkanya fye ifyakulalana! What is the significance to this fraud if they slept together????
It just unfortunate that these two did not prepare adequately but these so-called sham marriages take place everyday worldwide.
@ mushota watch out! next it will be u as u r so desperate 2 become british.just be pround of being zambian mwaiche iwe
man can do anything for greener life…
Arrested before the actual crime took place, GOOD CRIME INTELLIGENCE. This is a good a lesson to our police service to help them understand that they do not only exist to arrest those that have already commited crime, but that preventing crime from happening is actaually their core business, and it requires good CRIME INTELLIGENCE!
this is no surprise..
Can’t blame her, she’s BLONDE!
It is good to marry for whatever reason. So the police were not professional. please allow them to marry. What is wrong with this animal called UK. You say if you do not have guy rights no money for you. PIPO are about to correctly marry you disturb them and arrest them This is called NO MORAL STANDING and no PRINCIPLES. The police are themselves a product of marriage. Even PM DAVID is . What is wrong with you PM DAVID