Denis Hani, a 30-year-old of Albanian origin, has been sentenced to prison by authorities in the UK after entering the island using a forged marriage document and claiming to have married a Romanian woman in Cyprus, despite not even knowing her.
The document later turned out to have been purchased by the young Albanian and forged.
Laura Atherton, prosecutor in the case, told the court that Denis Hani had applied in May 2022 using a marriage certificate stating that he had married a Romanian national, referred to as Ms Duna, in Cyprus in 2019.
Cypriot authorities later told the Home Office in England that the issue number on the certificate did not match their records.
The court heard that the 30-year-old Albanian, who appeared by video link from prison, secured work at a painting and decorating business and a property management company and in the 2025/26 tax year he earned more than £24,000.
Denis Hani was arrested at his home in Liverpool in June and when questioned, he denied knowing the woman he claimed to be married to and said he was forced to make the request.
Eiran Reilly, the defence lawyer, said: "Mr Hani bought this forged certificate. He is a customer, not an organiser."
He said Hani had paid his taxes and there was no evidence that his employers had any complaints about his work. The lawyer added: "He wanted to stay in this country. He wanted to work in this country for a better life."
Denis Hani pleaded guilty at Wirral Magistrates' Court last month to two counts of fraud by false representation and one count of obtaining leave to enter/remain in the UK by fraudulent means.
His defense lawyer said the 30-year-old wanted to return to Albania "as soon as possible."
Sentencing, Judge Swinnerton said: "You were the purchaser of a false marriage certificate. This was significant planning on your part. You planned to buy it in order to obtain permanent residence. You knew you were not really married to that woman."
He told Denis Han that he would be deported at the end of his sentence. The 30-year-old was sentenced to 14 months in prison at Liverpool Crown Court after admitting using forged documents when applying under the EU's case-solving scheme.
