It is reported by the Courier Mail that a MIGRATION agent and his wedding celebrant wife are to face up to 10 years in jail. They have been charged over an alleged visa scam which saw Indian students paying for bogus marriages to Australian women and fraudulent Partner Visa applications.

Indian-Born 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.

It has been reported that Mashru has had his migration agent registration stripped and faces 49 charges including arranging fake marriages and lodging fraudulent Partner visa applications with the Department of Immigration”.

The Department of Immigration and Boarder Protection will allege that Gowda  performed the “marriages” that were the basis of the fabricated partner visa applications, faces 17 charges, states the report.

An estimated $2.2 million in 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?