By Cherrie Anne E. Villahermosa
Variety News Staff

A MAN was arrested on Friday for marriage fraud.
Mohammad Nazrul Islam, 35, was brought to Superior Court yesterday and was told by Associate Judge Ramona V. Manglona to post at least 15 percent, or $1,500, of the $10,000 cash bail, and $8,500 as a security bond for his temporary liberty.
Islam was represented by attorney Joe Hill while the prosecutor was Assistant Attorney General Kevin Lynch.
Manglona ordered Islam to stay away from the victim and her family in case he posted bail and to observe a daily curfew from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. unless he had to report for work.
Islam was remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections after failing to post bail.
A preliminary hearing was set for Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. while arraignment was set for March 5, at 9 a.m.
Based on the affidavit submitted to the court by Division Immigration investigator Erwin Flores, he received information from a confidential source that Islam, a citizen of Banglahesh, married a minor local on June 9, 2006 so he could secure “immediate relative” immigration status.
Islam went to the minor’s residence in May 2006 and asked her to help him through a “fixed marriage.”
The minor told Islam that she had to ask her stepfather and mother’s permission.
Islam said he would pay the minor and her family $2,000 — $500 would go to the minor and $1,500 would go to the stepfather.
The minor told her stepfather and mother about Islam’s proposal. The minor agreed to marry the defendant when her parents also agreed.
Islam would pay all the expenses, including fees for the minor’s birth certificate, police clearance and identification card.
When Islam and the minor met again he asked her if she had the documents with her.
Islam told the minor that the marriage would only be completed if the needed documents were submitted to the Northern Islands mayor’s office in Garapan because these were among the requirements for a marriage application.
Islam prepared all the necessary documents and submitted them to the Northern Islands mayor’s office.
He also made the minor sign a marriage application to include an immigration application for his immediate relative entry permit.
Islam and the minor were married on June 9, 2006 at the Northern Islands mayor’s office in Garapan.
The minor’s stepfather and mother and Mohammad Abu Zahidur Raman acted as witnesses.
The marriage was performed by Mayor Valentin I. Taisakan of the Northern Islands.
After the ceremony, Islam took the minor and her family to a restaurant in Chalan Kanoa for a celebration. Afterward, he gave the minor $500 and the stepfather $1,500.
The affidavit stated that the stepfather knew the defendant because a relative of his was also married to Islam’s brother.