A Dutch woman and a Nigerian man have been sentenced to 18 months' jail in the United Kingdom on suspicion of arranging a fake marriage to circumvent immigration regulations, according to the Daily Mail.

The couple was before the altar in Tilbury, Essex, on 25 August last year, when they were arrested and handcuffed by police.

Being married to the Dutch woman would give the Nigerian the right to live and work in the UK. The woman was promised 2000 pounds if she agreed to become the man's wife.

The priest in charge of the ceremony, Father Tom Calding became suspicious when the bridegroom-to-be gave two different home addresses on official documents. He tipped the police. The Dutch woman was known to have had a same-sex relationship for the past eight years, and her partner had even flown to the UK on the day of the wedding to report her missing.

(rk)

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