Arrest Made in Fake Wedding Incident at Disneyland Paris
A 39-year-old man from the UK has been arrested for allegedly attempting to orchestrate a sham wedding with a 9-year-old girl at Disneyland in Paris. Jaskarn ‘Jacky’ Jhaj, who hails from Fulham, West London, has a troubling history, having previously been sentenced for sexual offenses against minors in 2016.
In that earlier case, Jhaj was convicted of multiple sexual offenses involving two 15-year-old girls, pretending to be a film producer to gain their trust. He received a four-year prison sentence and was placed on the UK Sex Offenders Register. Since his release, he has reportedly violated sexual harm prevention orders and has failed to meet registration obligations.
This recent incident unfolded when Jhaj arranged a fake wedding, introducing a nine-year-old Ukrainian girl as his bride. He is thought to have spent over 130,000 euros (about $152,000) to “rent” Disneyland Paris, complete with professional makeup and a fabricated identity.
Jhaj is accused of using a stolen Latvian ID to secure the booking for this mock wedding. Current charges include fraud, money laundering, and identity theft, with further investigation into possible minor corruption, although formal charges are yet to follow.
Concerns arose when Disneyland staff noticed something amiss during a wedding event for the faux couple. It became evident that all the wedding guests were, in fact, actors hired for the occasion, who had little knowledge about the true circumstances.
Fortunately, the girl is reported to be in good health following a medical examination. Prosecutor Alexandre Bernie noted that four individuals were arrested, including Jhaj, the girl’s mother—whose identity remains undisclosed—and two Latvian nationals aged 24 and 55.
Recent reports indicate that the mother and the older Latvian have been released from custody. However, Jhaj and the 24-year-old Latvian are still being held regarding potential financial crimes.
Witnesses expressed their shock, sharing their dismay upon realizing that the bride was a minor. One attendee remarked, “We all thought we were going to attend a wedding. Everyone was uncertain. No one was expecting that.” Another added, “Disneyland acted swiftly, canceling everything once they understood the situation.”
