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posted ago by MagnaCartaAgain ago by MagnaCartaAgain +21 / -0

A family accused of masquerading as Afghans to illegally claim asylum in the UK will not stand trial until 2026 - a decision that will cost the taxpayer another £164,000, MailOnline can reveal today.

Gurbakhsh Singh, 72, his wife Ardet Kaur, 68, their son Guljeet Singh, 44, and his wife Kawaljeet Kaur, 37, all appeared on bail at Croydon Crown Court last Thursday.

The husband, wife, son and daughter-in-law are accused of claiming to be from Afghanistan when they arrived at Heathrow Airport just before Christmas 2023.

But they were then accused of twice having failed to obtain visas to come to Britain as Indian citizens earlier that year.

They are currently living in a £575,000 luxury house in the exclusive Home Counties commuter town of Hemel Hempstead. Until recently they were housed at Wembley's Holiday Inn, which has been completely booked by the UK Government and is currently not accepting any customers.

Based on Home Office-accepted figures, it costs the UK around £164,000-a-year to house a family of four asylum seekers.

The Singh Kaurs have been in Britain illegally for 13 months and with their trial now set for February 2026, they are set to cost the taxpayer the same amount again bringing their accommodation bill to at least £328,000 by next year.

Last week they appeared at Croydon Crown Court for the first time, but the hearing was adjourned because no Punjabi or Dari Afghan interpreters had been booked.

It is alleged they had all previously declared themselves to be Indian nationals and provided documentary evidence in two failed visa applications three months earlier.

They are also all charged with making a false statement or representation at Heathrow Airport, namely requesting asylum as Afghan citizens when Home Office records confirm they are Indian nationals, contrary to the Immigration and Asylum Act.

All four are also charged with knowingly entering the UK without leave on December 23, last year, contrary to the Immigration Act.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/four-asylum-seekers-will-cost-the-taxpayer-an-estimated-320-000/ar-AA1xUyJY?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=8342a39540e14c31810f10c79faa0a70&ei=19