Indian Australian couple, Chetan Mashru and his wife Divya Krishna Gowda have been accused of running a marriage for visa scam in Brisbane, Queensland and are undergoing trial at the Brisbane District Court over taking money in return of arranging sham marriages between Indian men and Australian women.
On Tuesday, the jury heard that Mashru’s wife Gowda who worked as a marriage celebrant solemnised visa-scam weddings.
Documents to prove these sham marriages were forged where relationship between the bride and the groom was faked.
Crown Prosecutor Greg Lynham told the jury on Tuesday that Gowda’s role in these ‘sham marriages’ was pivotal.
She was an ‘essential cog’ in the rort, he told the jury.
Indian men who’s visas were about to expire were hooked up with Australian women who married them in return of money.
Brides were paid thousands on the day of their wedding and were promised weekly payments by Indian men who would gain spousal visas and thus continue to stay in the country.
Gowda allegedly facilitated these marriages which saw no vows or rings but cost grooms about $9000.
Several grooms have testified before the court and told the jury they had paid about $9000 in their attempt to secure the right to stay in Australia.
A pair will stand trial in Brisbane over allegations they arranged sham marriages for visa purposes. (AAP) Source: AAP
Gowda fraudulently completed forms to register the weddings, Mr Lynham said.
Thirteen of the 15 weddings took place at Gowda and Mashru's townhouse at Oxley, often after the bride and groom had met for the first time.
"There's no courtship, there's no dating, there's no getting to know each other," Mr Lynham said.
"It's simply rock up to the townhouse, sign some forms ... and then the parties go their separate ways, usually with the bride somewhat financially more benefited than what she was when she walked in."
Mashru and Gowda have pleaded not guilty to arranging marriages for visas.
Mashru, who is representing himself in court, is also charged with delivering a false or misleading document and influencing a commonwealth official.
The jury is expected to retire to consider their verdict after hearing closing submissions on Tuesday.
