Polish mum from Bradford masterminded sham weddings with Nigerian immigrants

A POLISH mother-of-four from Bradford has admitted organising four bogus weddings and taking part in one herself.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Feb 2012, 14:14 BST

Andzelina Surmaj, 30, pleaded guilty to her roles in the sham ceremonies at churches across East Lancashire and Greater Manchester.

All the weddings involved Eastern Europeans marrying non-EU citizens, understood to be Nigerian nationals.

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Appearing with co-defendant Milan Cina, 38, at Burnley Crown Court, they both pleaded guilty to several counts of assisting unlawful immigration.

Czech national Cina admitted jointly organising the four sham weddings with Surmaj and also pleaded guilty to acting as a witness at another ceremony.

Unmarried Surmaj, who has been in the UK for 12 years, also admitted giving a false address at her sham marriage at St Peter’s Church in Newbold, Rochdale, and possessing a fake Czech Republic ID card.

Cina, of Lister Gardens, Bradford, was remanded in custody, while Surmaj, of Girlington Road, was granted conditional bail in order to make personal arrangements.

Sentencing was adjourned until March 19.

Judge Beverley Lunt told Surmaj she faced a custodial sentence of “some length”, while Cina was warned a prison term was “inevitable”.