Fake groom who fled during sham marriage trial back to face justice

Jozef Puzo was the second absconder in a week to be brought back to face British justice after fleeing while on bail during their trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court two and a half years ago.

Olantuji George, a key figure behind the money-spinning racket that involved at least 45 fake relationships, was returned to the UK last week after being traced to Balbriggan, County Dublin.

Coincidentally he went on the run a week after 30-year-old Puzo who vanished from his home in St Pauls Road, Smethwick on July 18, 2016.

Both were sentenced in their absence with George receiving ten years behind bars and Puzo five. In all 11 people were jailed for a total of 52 and a half years for their roles in the racket after being convicted at the end of the trial.

Puzo was brought back to the UK under escort on Monday after being arrested on March 7 at his home in Chomutov, in the Czech Republic. He had been remanded in custody pending the granting of an extradition order which was issued on March 15.

He appeared in the dock at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday, when he admitted the bail act offence and was remanded in custody until April 1. He acted as a fake groom and was suspected of helping to find women and men from the Czech and Slovakian communities to take part in the scam.

The racket involved West Africans in this country illegally paying up to £6,500-a-time for permission to stay in the UK on the bogus grounds of being married to, or in a long term relationship with, a person from the European Union living and working in this country.

A graphics expert created fake histories for the West Africans and people supposed to be their long-term lovers who were mainly Czech or Slovakian and were promised up to £1,800 each to take part in the plot which ran from January 2012 to March 2015.

False utility bills, rent books, pay slips and employment records backed the bogus claim of a legitimate marriage or lasting relationship. Some included pictures of the pair – who were strangers – side by side in bed, fully clothed or shopping together.

Dave Magrath, Deputy Director, Immigration Enforcement Criminal and Financial Investigation, said: “Puzo’s role was to act as a fake groom and in doing so help others abuse the UK’s immigration laws. His motivation was financial.

“The five-year sentence handed to him in his absence shows how seriously the offence was taken by the courts. My officers have worked hard to ensure that Puzo did not escape justice.”