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Marriage of convenience turns permanent

FUJAIRAH - The Fujairah Court has acquitted Jamal Karim, a national, of the charges of illegally marrying an Arab woman with the intention of obtaining a residence visa for her in the country. The court also found his wife not guilty, but imposed a fine of Dh100 for staying illegally in the country.

The court also ensured that the marriage was made legal and official.

The case started with the Fujairah Immigration Department reporting to the police that a national had applied for a residence visa for an Arab woman after producing a marriage contract. When asked whether he had indeed married her, he said it was a proxy marriage only to enable them secure residence visa for her.

The defendant and his wife were both referred to the Public Prosecution for interrogation. The woman informed the Public Prosecution that she married the national only on paper. The prosecution then convicted her of proxy marriage, a punishable offence under UAE laws. She was also charged with giving false information that she was married.

The case was then referred to the court and after a number of hearings, the Arab woman submitted a marriage contract, which revealed that she was legally married to Karim. She also confessed that the marriage was consummated and that she was living with him in Fujairah.

The court then acquitted her of all counts, but slapped a fine of Dh100 for staying in the country illegally.

The prosecution appealed against the verdict, but the Court of Appeal upheld the lower court's verdict.