A Pakistani, Tahir Naqqash, was jailed for dodging the UK immigration laws by arranging paper marriage with British girls in Bradford, a friend of the convicted said on Tuesday. Naqqash was convicted as he tried to marry Slovak Zlatica Balogova in an attempt to stay in the UK, he said. UK Border Agency confirmed that a gang that included a Pakistani attempted to stage a sham marriage to dodge the UK immigration laws and had been jailed this month. “The Pakistani was arrested and plan was foiled when our officers interrupted their ‘wedding’ at Bradford and Keighley register office last year.
Three other people, Slovaks Elemer Danihel, Ervin Lakatos and Natasa Cicuova, who were all involved in the conspiracy were also arrested,” the agency’s official website says. Simon Walker, acting regional director, UK Border Agency said, “This was a cynical attempt to cheat immigration law, and the sentences handed out today reflect the severity of the offence. The UK Border Agency will continue to crack down on those who seek abuse the system.” Officials said Leeds Crown Court heard how the couple did not share a common language, and that Naqqash had paid £3,000 to Balogova to marry him.