Moroccan Family Faces Trial in France for Alleged Immigration Fraud Scheme

The facts date back to October 2019. Conversations between various members of a family suggest to investigators who were conducting investigations in the context of a completely different case: the organization of a white marriage. Objective: to obtain French nationality for one of their Moroccan cousins. The latter will have to take care of their elderly father who lives alone.

Aboubakar B., 34, a restaurant employee of one of the brothers, is the future groom. The choice made on his person would be explained by the fact that he owes money to the family and this "would be a way to pay off his debt," says Oise Hebo. Having an apartment is one of the prerequisites for getting married. His employer, Ismaël L., provides him with a rental lease for an apartment in the Jeanne-Hachette Residence. Karima L., the brother’s sister, takes care of the administrative procedures, as the future bride does not know how to speak or read French. Moncef L., the last brother, comes into play. He gives fashion advice to the future groom. Aboubakar will be incarcerated just after the marriage, but will not be visited by his wife. Only his former partner will do so. Released, he now lives with her. The young wife finds herself alone and returns to Morocco where she remains.

Prosecuted for criminal conspiracy with the aim of organizing a white marriage, all the defendants except the young wife appear before the Beauvais court. "There was indeed an agreement established between the defendants to organize this marriage," estimates the deputy prosecutor. She demands 15 months in prison and a 500 euro fine for Aboubakar B.; 12 months including six suspended and a 500 euro fine for Karima L., "the head of the organization"; 12 months including 10 suspended and a 500 euro fine for Ismaël L.; 8 months in prison including four suspended and a 200 euro fine for Moncef L. "Everything is based on hypotheses that nothing confirms!" denounces Romain Boulet, Karima L.’s lawyer. The verdict will be handed down on January 12, 2023.