Arranged marriages netted €350k

A Mauritian man living in Dublin accused of using bogus documentation to facilitate marriages of convenience for foreign nationals was in a business that “went through the roof”, a court has heard.

Dublin District Court heard Resen Modeley, 30, told gardaí it cost €7,000 for an arranged marriage. He admitted to detectives that he had been involved in 50 of them which would have amounted to €350,000 but had to use most the money to cover significant expenses.

The father of six was arrested following an investigation by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

He has three counts under the Theft and Fraud Act for using as false instruments, two letters from a guest house offering employment to a named man and woman, between May 6 and May 7 last year at his home address, at Chapel Gate, St Alphonsus Road, in Dublin 9.

He also has another charge for using another letter from the same guest house as a false instrument between April 28 and May 29 last. He is also charged with unlawfully possessing a stun gun disguised as a flash-light, and possession of a quantity of cannabis.

Judge Michael Walsh was given an outline of the allegations to determine whether the case case should remain in the District Court or instead go forward to the Circuit Court.

The defendant allegedly admitted paying a member of staff at a business to produce the fictitious job offer letters for him to assist Portuguese nationals obtain PPS numbers which are necessary to apply to marry a foreign national.

In recent years his business “went through the roof”, the court heard.

Judge Walsh adjourned the case for two weeks.

Mr Modeley was remanded on continuing bail.