Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Suspect marriages under investigation in the Cayman Islands
08-16-2006

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands: The Cayman Islands Immigration Department is now investigating a number of marriages that, according to a government press release, appear to have been entered into with the primary intention of avoiding or benefiting from provisions of the Immigration Law.

“Such marriages are referred to as ‘Marriages of Convenience’ in the Immigration Law and are viewed as a serious offence,” said Assistant Chief Immigration Officer Jeannie Lewis. She also cautioned persons who may be seeking to enter a “Marriage of Convenience” to refrain from doing so, as they will be detected and prosecuted”.

The offence and penalty for entering into a marriage of convenience is set out in section 100 of the Immigration Law which states as follows: “A person who enters into a marriage of convenience is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars and to imprisonment for one year.”

The Immigration Department is currently investigating these cases and will be actively prosecuting persons who allegedly commit this, or any other, offence, Ms Lewis confirmed.