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A gang staged a bogus British citizenship ceremony with a fake Home Secretary as part of a scam to con thousands of pounds from Chinese immigrants, a court heard.
The ceremony took place at the Central Methodist Hall just yards from the Houses of Parliament and the new Supreme Court.
Southwark Crown Court heard yesterday (Thu) how the gang hired a film crew and actors to play the Home Secretary, immigration officials, security guards and members of the audience to convince those who attended it was genuine.
The bogus MP gave a speech welcoming the immigrants to Britain before they all sang “God Save the Queen” in front of a picture of the Queen and a Union Jack.
The gang set up two fake law firms, called Lombards and Borough de Law, and advertised their services in the Chinese language press in the UK.
Those who attended the rented offices at various addresses on Lombard Street, close to the Bank of England, were given a presentation and asked for a deposit of up to £2,000.
In the months that followed they received confirmation that their citizenship applications had been successful and were invited to the ceremony on 7 December 2007 at the imposing venue.
It was only when they tried to use the passports they discovered they were fakes and the deception was uncovered.
Simon Clarke, prosecuting, said: ““Any foreign national new to citizenship would have no reason to doubt the authenticity of that ceremony. No doubt a new citizen would perhaps have been proud and honoured to have participated.
“Convincing as it was for those present this was not a genuine ceremony. It was false in every respect save for the appearance of realism.”
The court also heard that the British actors and film crew hired for the ceremony had also been deceived. They had been told they were making a promotional video welcoming Chinese nationals to the UK.
One of the victims, Tan Li Huang, said: “We sang the British national anthem and then we were made to swear an oath.
“The man in front then spoke many words which I did not understand. I think I have seen him on television.
“We all clapped our hands then they called our names. We went up to the male who had made the speech and I was given an envelope.”
Xiang Li, 29, from Stratford, east London, one of the gang members, has pleaded guilty to two counts of assisting unlawful entry into the country and two counts of fraud by misrepresentation. He has also admitted one count of money laundering.
But he denies a further count of assisting entry and one of fraud by misrepresentation.
The alleged mastermind of the scam, Tian Zhao, has never been caught.
The trial continues.
