According to the BBC, French authorities have brought charges against a British national in connection with orchestrating a disturbing fake wedding ceremony involving a nine-year-old Ukrainian child at Disneyland Paris.
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Arrest and Initial Investigation
The 39-year-old suspect, whose identity remains undisclosed, was taken into custody following an early morning police response to the theme park on Saturday. Disneyland Paris personnel contacted authorities after being alerted by a hired actor who had been recruited to portray the child’s father during the staged ceremony.
According to Meaux prosecutor Jean-Baptiste Bladier, the individual playing the father role had received €12,000 for his participation but only discovered the “bride” was a minor at the last moment of the planned event.
Details of the Staged Event
The elaborate deception involved approximately 100 French extras who had been hired to participate in what they believed was a legitimate private filming project. The British organizer had reportedly rented Disneyland Paris for several hours to conduct the ceremony, during which he was scheduled to play the groom.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspect had undergone professional makeup application to dramatically alter his appearance, making his face “totally different from his own,” according to the prosecutor’s findings.
One woman hired as a guest performer told BFMTV about her shock upon arrival: “When I saw [it was a] child – it was horrific.” She described seeing “a little girl dressed in white with her hair all done up” and immediately becoming emotional at the disturbing scene.
The Ukrainian Child and Other Arrests
The nine-year-old Ukrainian girl had arrived in France just two days before the planned ceremony. Prosecutors emphasized that she had not suffered physical or sexual abuse and was not coerced into participating as the bride.
Authorities arrested three additional individuals in connection with the case: the child’s 41-year-old mother, a 24-year-old Latvian woman cast as the bride’s sister, and a 55-year-old Latvian man. By Tuesday, only the British organizer remained in police custody.
Criminal Charges and Background
During a court appearance in Meaux on June 23, the British suspect faced multiple charges including fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and identity theft. He was subsequently placed in pretrial detention while the Latvian woman continues as a witness in the ongoing investigation.
The prosecutor’s statement revealed the suspect’s troubling criminal history: “He was reportedly convicted in the past, including for offences of a sexual nature against minors.” The individual is registered in Britain’s sex offender database and is currently wanted by UK judicial authorities for violating the terms of his supervision requirements.
Deception of Disneyland Paris
Investigators determined that Disneyland Paris had been “deceived” by the organizer, who used fraudulent Latvian identification documents to secure the venue rental. The theme park allows private bookings outside regular operating hours for legitimate events.
BFMTV estimates the total cost of the elaborate scheme may have exceeded €130,000, highlighting the extensive planning and resources invested in the disturbing operation.
Ongoing Investigation
The motive behind this elaborate and costly deception remains unclear as the investigation continues. French authorities are working to understand the full scope and purpose of the staged ceremony while ensuring the safety and welfare of the child involved. Subscribe to AirMagique for more news and updates.
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