CHIBA (TR) – Chiba Prefectural Police have a male Sri Lankan national and a Japanese woman for allegedly entering into a sham marriage, reports TBS News (Mar. 18).
Chiba police allege that Lahir Pavasara Mendis, a 30-year-old resident of Ichihara City, entered into the fake marriage with Miyubi Nakagawa, 34, in order to obtain long-term residency status.
According to police, the two suspects are suspected of having a false marriage registration form accepted by the Sodegaura City Hall in March of last year.
Police say this was done despite Mendis having no intention of marrying Nakagawa. Rather, his intention was to obtain long-term residency status as a spouse of a Japanese national. As a result, false information was entered into Nakagawa’s family register.
Police have not disclosed whether the two suspects have admitted or denied the charges.
Delinquent group
Mendis is a central figure in a delinquent group composed of Sri Lankans with criminal records. The case was discovered during an undercover investigation, police said.
Mendis and Nakagawa were acquaintances. The arrest was made because there was no evidence of them living together.
Mendis came to Japan in February 2017 to study. However, he had been residing illegally since December 2021. Since February of last year, he had been living with supporters and others while undergoing deportation proceedings.
Police are investigating whether the supporters were accomplices in the case.
