Four charged over sham marriages
Last Updated: Monday, 23 April 2007, 17:12 GMT 18:12 UK []
BBC News
The four accused appeared in chambers at Paisley Sheriff court
Four people have appeared in custody at Paisley Sheriff Court charged with arranging sham marriages to avoid immigration laws.
Derek Burns, 27, of Glendower Way, and Maureen Campbell, 26, of Morar Drive, Foxbar, both Paisley, were charged with offering to arrange marriages.
Also charged were Lamin Manneh, 34, from Reading, and Philkip Kojo Titus Glover, 33, from Thornton Heath.
None of the accused made any plea or declaration.
Fraudulent scheme
It is claimed they formed a fraudulent scheme to enable interested parties “to obtain leave to remain in the United Kingdom”.
It is alleged that on various occasions between 1 July 2006 and 20 February 2007, they offered to arrange marriages and organise relevant documentation in the knowledge that the marriages were not genuine and that the arrangements were designed to circumvent current UK immigration laws and allow individuals to remain in the country.
The Crown claim that they obtained payments for the services provided and that those payments were obtained by fraud.
All four appeared in chambers and Sheriff Neil Douglas continued the case against all four for further examination.
