Tuesday, January 18 2005 10:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Twenty-five Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) have been convicted and sentenced to jail for arranging "marriages of convenience" of Indians with British nationals in order to let them gain entry into Britain.

Ringleaders Salim Mullan, 50, from Leicester and Ibrahim Umarji, 66, from East Ham, London, were jailed for four years each after they admitted helping illegal immigrants enter the country through the sham marriages.

Twenty-three others received jail terms of up to three years for their part in the racket. One woman was given a suspended sentence.

Mullan's wife, Jahara, was jailed for one year after pleading guilty to money laundering. She had nearly 80,000 Pounds in two bank accounts, the Leicester Crown Court was told.

The Court heard the ceremonies were set up in an attempt to beat the UK immigration system.

One of the bogus brides connected with the case married as many as six men over a five-year period.

Delivering the sentence yesterday (Jan 17, 2005), Judge Simon Hammond said, "Clearly this was a well-planned and sophisticated operation involving recruitment of stooges in this country. Some were flown to India and there was substantial funding."

"It was a team job requiring different roles. Everyone knew that what they were doing was unlawful. It was cheating and it prejudiced genuine candidates.

"The sentence must reflect the public need to deter others in what was for some a very lucrative scam.

"The motive for the UK citizens was money and for the Indian nationals was entry into the UK and to remain in the UK."

Fourteen of the defendants jailed were women, many single mothers who had been put under financial stress or were pressured by the ringleaders to go through with the bogus ceremonies.

Of Umerji, the judge said, "He was an important player in this case. He was a respected elder in his community and he abused that status."

A total of 36 weddings took place, with some taking place in England and some in India.