Authorities have made a further arrest in connection with the case of a marriage of convenience ring uncovered in Nicosia following a year long probe.
CID members located a 38 year old man, resident of the capital, being sought for almost a year, who was remanded in custody yesterday.
Five other people had been arrested for involvement, including a 29 year old woman, who’s already been handed down a 3,5 year sentence.
The investigation into the illicit activity was launched on September 17 2021, when members of the Anti-Human Trafficking squad and the immigration service, following a tip off on a sham weddings ring operating in Nicosia, conducted an operation which led to the subsequent arrest of one man and two women.
It appears from evidence presented that the 35 year old man had paid the two women to carry out marriages of conveniences as a means of securing legal residence in Cyprus for other individuals.
Following testimony, a 32 year old man and a 29 year old woman were arrested in January and April 2022 respectively with an arrest warrant pending against a 38 year old.
He was located yesterday and remanded in custody for six days by the Assize court in Nicosia.
A 20 year old and a 19 year old woman were given suspended sentences, with the 29 year old being handed down a 3,5 years prison term.
The Nicosia CID continues to investigate, focusing on other possible accomplices and individuals involved in the ring.
