The Courier Mail reports that a MIGRATION agent and his wedding celebrant wife face up to 10 years in jail after being charged over an alleged visa scam in which Indian students paid for bogus marriages to Australian women.

Chetan Mohanlal Mashru and his Australian-born wife Divya Krishne Gowda were arrested by the Australian Federal Police in Brisbane yesterday on various counts and charges relating to migration fraud.

“Mashru, who has had his migration agent registration stripped, faces 49 charges including arranging fake marriages and lodging fraudulent visa applications with the Department of Immigration.

Gowda, who Immigration will allege performed the “marriages” that were the basis of the fabricated visa applications, faces 17 charges, “ states the report.

An estimated $2.2 million in the pairs assets have reportedly been frozen as alleged proceeds from the scam.

An Immigration spokesman said there was no evidence any visas were granted as a result of the scam.

For more information please see this link: http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/chetan-mohanlal-mashru-charged-over-alleged-visa-scam-involving-bogus-marriages/story-fnihsrf2-1226825089802?from=public_rss