The investigations of our country’s investigative team continue, which, together with Europol and the authorities of Portugal and Latvia, are trying to clarify the case of the international ring of sham marriages centered in Cyprus.
So far, evidence has been found for 133 sham marriages, and 15 people have been arrested in three countries.
The alleged mastermind of the criminal group, as well as 19 other foreigners who are alleged to have conducted sham marriages in order to secure residency permits in the Republic, are still being sought.
The 13 foreigners from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, who were arrested in Cyprus during the day, are expected to appear before the Larnaca District Court for the renewal of their detention orders.
In the coming days, investigators from the Larnaca Anti-Human Trafficking Unit will travel to Portugal to bring back the spouse of the alleged mastermind, who was extradited to our country after allegedly recruiting brides and grooms.
According to information gathered by the Cypriot Police, they were sending various amounts to two Indians arrested in Cyprus, aged 25 and 37, to obtain certificates of freedom for the brides and grooms.
A request was also submitted to the Latvian authorities for the extradition of a woman who is also alleged to have recruited brides from the country in exchange for payment.
It is recalled that 107 sham marriages were conducted at the Aradippou Municipality, 25 at the Nicosia Municipality, and one at the Livadia Municipality.
From the investigations, it appears that some of the foreigners who conducted the marriages were witnesses in marriages that followed their own.
A large volume of documents, believed to be fake and deposited by the alleged couples at the Immigration Service for Foreigners and Immigration, is under police scrutiny.
These documents concern rental documents, insurance documents, as well as employment agreements with various employers.
According to information from Phileleftheros, there is still a lot of investigative work to be done, as dozens of statements are expected from municipal councilors who conducted the sham marriages, members of insurance companies, state officials, and employers mentioned in the documents.
Meanwhile, in Aradippou, tensions continue over the conduct of the 107 sham marriages.
After the Municipality’s announcement defending its actions and indirectly attributing responsibilities to state services, the Aradippou AKEL returned with new criticisms towards the mayor, Evangelos Evangelides.
Arguing that the administrative control over the procedures followed burdens the mayor, AKEL suggests that “the reasonable question of public opinion remains unanswered, why criminal networks historically prefer the Aradippou Municipality, out of the 39 municipalities in Cyprus, to carry out their illegal actions.” It further adds that the municipality is being disgraced and that the mayor, as the political superior, “should at least be called to account.”
