Fake marriages: minister points the finger at Aradippou

JUSTICE Minister Doros Theodorou said yesterday the authorities had suspicions that fake marriages were being carried out at the Aradippou Municipality after it emerged that some people had been married there two or three times.

Speaking to state radio, Theodorou said: “There seems to be a problem. No one can carry out marriages on the same person two or three times without realising it.”

He said the police and his Ministry were not going to stand by and allow such practices to continue. “This can’t be tolerated. It’s unacceptable,” the Minister added.
He said this was not the first time that such reports had surfaced about the Aradippou Municipality. “But it is the first time that evidence has emerged that is indisputable,” Theordorou said. “This is very irresponsible action by a local authority.”

According to reports, a young lawyer has set up a business referring potential couples to the Aradippou Municipality, which is known for carrying out a high number of marriages.

But Aradippou Mayor Christos Limberis said yesterday the allegations were untrue. He said Theodorou ought to have more respect for local authorities.

“Local administration is a democratic body and I am not going to dignify the Minister’s comments with a reply,” said Limberis.

The Mayor said that Theorodorou was obviously familiar with civil marriage procedures. He said couples wishing to marry at the Mayor’s office must first produce a paper from the courts saying they are free to marry. He said the municipality never accepts documents at face value, and that other documentation is also required, such as passports and other supporting papers from other authorities.

“Our Municipality does a lot of marriages but I don’t know why everyone is suddenly looking at us,” he said. “All the documents are a matter of public record and can be examined by anyone at any time.”