Court annuls marriage of convenience

The marriage between a 19-year-old Maltese woman and a Tunisian man was today annulled by the courts, which ruled that the marriage was contracted for the convenience of both parties.

In January 2003, a young woman in financial difficulties accepted to marry a Tunisian man who wanted to get Maltese citizenship. The case started in a car showroom where the youth was discussing her debts over a newly-bought car with the seller. A Tunisian man walked in asking if anyone wanted to marry his brother.

Having just lost her job and in a dire financial situation, the woman accepted to marry the Tunisian if he paid her €2,300 in debts. The two met at the marriage registry to file the document for marriage banns. They met again on the day of their wedding and only met occasionally to sign documentation. The Tunisian handed over the money but the now-married couple never lived together.

However, as years went by, the youth realised her mistake. Having only told her mother about what had transpired, she filed for annulment. “I have no idea what has become of my husband as I haven’t seen him in four years," she told the court.

Since no evidence was produced to challenge the woman’s version, the court found no reason not to believe her version.

The Court declared that the decision for marriage was convenience and neither of the two had the intention to form a family or to live a married life. “This marriage was simply a means to solve their separate problems,” the court said.