Indian international student Pradeep Singh who worked as taxi driver in Queensland first met his wife Josephine Haig on his wedding day in March 2011.
Their wedding was allegedly ‘orchestrated’ by a registered migration agent Chetan Mashru and his marriage celebrant wife Divya Gowda to help Singh extend his stay in Australia, the Brisbane District Court heard on Monday.
reported Singh’s application to extend his student visa had reportedly been rejected and when he was still undergoing the process of appealing the decision, migration agent Mashru allegedly told him of another way to get a permanent visa.
Singh allegedly paid $5000 to Mashru and his wife Gowda and another $5000 to Ms Haig.
Singh’s marriage to Ms Haig is one among the 16 sham marriages arranged by Mashru and his wife Gowda who are now undergoing trial at the Brisbane District Court for allegedly arranging marriages for a visa.
Mashru is facing 50 charges while Gowda is facing 16 counts of arranging marriages for a visa.
The couple allegedly orchestrated 16 sham marriages between March 2011 and March 2012 wherein Indian men paid tens of thousands of dollars to secure spousal visas.
During Monday's court hearing， the court was told the Indian men paid the pair for the ceremonies， and for organising documentation， while the Australian women were paid over the course of two years in exchange for agreeing to be married.
reported that Ms Haig was promised nearly $30,000 - to be paid over two years for her role in the sham marriage.
Commonwealth prosecution barrister Greg Lynham compared this scam to Nine Network’s reality TV show ‘Married at first sight’ in the court.
"At the time the marriage documents were signed Josephine was not wearing a wedding dress, she had no bridesmaids, there were no vows or wedding rings exchanged, there was no kissing of the bride, no reception, no speeches.
"This was no genuine marriage. It was a sham."
Mashru and Gowda have pleaded not guilty to arranging marriages for visas.
Pradeep along with five other Indian men and 15 of the Australian brides will testify in the court. An investigator of the Department of Immigration too is expected to appear as witness before the court.
The hearing continues.
*Mashru and Gowda’s residence in Brisbane.
