LONDON: A Pakistani-origin man accused of arranging sham marriages in the UK said he had no idea why his wife was texting men two weeks before their wedding to tell them what their future wife's birthday, job and place of birth would be.

Ayaz Khan (32) and Jurgita Pavlovskyte (25), allegedly set up fake weddings for of least 13 South Asian men with Lithuanian women to give the men the right to live and work in the UK owing to the women’s EU citizenship. The fake grooms — 11 from Pakistan , one from India and one from Bangladesh — were all desperate to stay in the UK after their visas expired, jurors heard.

While the grooms deny securing or seeking to secure the avoidance of enforcement action by acting as grooms in the weddings, the fake brides deny assisting unlawful immigration by entering into marriages of convenience.

Pavlovskyte would allegedly send text messages outlining the address, date of birth, favourite food, favourite colour, occupation, annual income and other details about potential clients to their bride-or husband-to-be, two weeks before their weddings.

The accused Khan and Pavlovskyte, along with Pakistani-origin Imran Farooq (35) and Lithuanian Diana Stankevic (26) — whose own marriage is allegedly a sham — and Pakistani-origin Muhammad Saqlain (32) denied conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration. Khan and Pavloskyte also denied receiving payments of more than £500,000 to set up the bogus marriages.

Only two of the 13 couples who got married between 2011 and 2014 are still together, the Old Bailey heard. Cross-examining Khan, prosecutor Tom Forster said, “Could you think of a reason why anybody who was about to be married would need to be told how they met their bride or groom? It's just bizarre isn't it?” Khan replied, “It is.”

The trial continues.

