Five Albanian men have been charged for allegedly faking marriages to enter the UK. The group is accused of using counterfeit marriage licences to claim they were married to EU citizens who had a right to live in Britain under a Brexit scheme that allowed them to stay after the country left the bloc.
Charges and Court Appearances
Kastriot Hoxha, 31, Sina Ervin, 35, Kadri Sinamati, 28, and Valdet Qoshi, 40, have been charged with fraud and immigration offences. They have been remanded in custody and are due to appear at Sheffield Crown Court on July 16 for a plea hearing. Mr Hoxha faces an additional charge of possession of cannabis.
A fifth man, Denis Hani, 30, pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation and two other offences. He was charged on June 17 and pleaded guilty the next day at Birkenhead Magistrates’ Court. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced on July 16 at Liverpool Crown Court.
Home Office Raids and Allegations
The suspects were arrested during Home Office raids across England and Wales on Wednesday, June 17. They allegedly obtained fake marriage certificates purporting to show they got married in Cyprus to EU nationals who had a right to live in Britain.
Prosecution Statement
Shaun Sigamoney from the Crown Prosecution Service said: “Prosecutors have charged these men with fraud and immigration offences over alleged fake marriages so they could live in the UK. While one man has pleaded guilty, that has no bearing on the case of the other four who are innocent until proven guilty. We remind all concerned that criminal proceedings are active and they have the right to a fair trial.”
He added: “It is vital that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.”
