New remand in marriage scam probe

A NICOSIA man was yesterday detained for six days by a Nicosia Court on suspicion of being involved in a ring arranging marriages of convenience for foreigners seeking Cypriot residency.

The man is believed to be part of an operation paying Cypriot women to marry foreigners.

Police told the court that the suspect had paid the same Cypriot woman on two separate occasions to marry foreign nationals.

The woman had first married a Syrian man and was paid £1,700 by the suspect before divorcing him and then marrying another man, again Syrian, this time for £3,000.
Both registry weddings were conducted at the same town hall in Aradhippou under the supervision of the same town hall employee.

Last Monday, a 29-year-old man, was remanded in custody in connection with the same case, while two weeks ago, a 45-year-old foreign woman, believed to be the brains behind the ring, was arrested.

Ten women, also arrested last week, admitted to taking an active part in fake marriages. Police are believed to be on the lookout for more people involved in the ring.

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