Man jailed for sham marriage
Elena Chong The Straits Times Monday, Aug 18, 2014
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A man who needed money was paid $5,500 to enter into a sham marriage with a Chinese national to help her get a long-term visit pass.
Yesterday, Tan Aik Seng, 24, was jailed for six months after admitting to marrying Han Fang-yuan with reason to believe this would boost the 23-year-old's chances of getting a visit pass. The marriage was solemnised at Pearl's Hill Terrace on Jan 26 last year.
The court heard that some time at the end of 2012, Tan's friend, one Steven Kwek, 32, asked him if he wished to earn extra money by entering into a sham marriage. Tan would be paid $5,500 after the marriage as well as $400 a month once the Chinese national had obtained her long-term visit pass.
Tan, a part-time sales assistant, was told that the mastermind, known only as Jay, would make the necessary arrangement. He was subsequently introduced to Han.
After the marriage, Tan received $5,500 from Jay. He had also been getting $400 a month since March last year for acting as Han's local sponsor.
The couple neither consummated the marriage nor lived together after the marriage.
Two other charges of making a false statement in the application for Han's visit pass were taken into consideration. Tan was arrested in June this year.
Han was convicted of a similar offence last Friday and jailed for six months. Tan could have been fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed for up to 10 years.
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