Hip Hip Hooray Bogus Asylum Seeker Can Stay!

A bogus asylum-seeker, who fled Egypt after getting a girl pregnant, can now remain in the U.K. despite lying to the immigration authorities because he married a Lithuanian.

Egyptian-born cafe owner Mohammed Zahran, 32, of Avondale Road, Mexsborough, South Yorkshire posed as an Iraqi refugee and despite his asylum application being refused was given exceptional leave to stay in the U.K. for four years.

His true identity was only revealed via fingerprints when he applied for permanent residency based on his marriage to an EU citizen.

Zahran pleaded guilty at Croydon Crown Court to obtaining leave to remain in the U.K. by deception, namely providing false details on July 10, 2002 and dishonestly obtaining a travel document on September 11, 2002.

"A lot of water has passed under the bridge since these offences," the Recorder of Croydon Warwick McKinnon told Zahran.

"You have got married, a legal marriage, and have joint responsibility for a nine-year old child, you have employment and the right to reside in the U.K. under European law."

The court heard Zahran successfully posed as a 17 year-old Iraqi asylum-seeker to obtain leave to remain after receiving advice from an immigration agent.

He got married in 2004 and applied for residency four years later.

"He fled Egypt because he had great concerns about his life," said Mr. David Jones, defending. "He is a hard-working, reliable member of society entitled to stay in this country."

Judge McKinnon refused to make a recommendation for deportation and sentenced Zahran to a twelve-month community order, with 100 hours community service work.

The maximum sentence is two years' imprisonment.