British Man Arrested for Organizing Fake Wedding to 9-Year-Old at Disneyland Paris
A British man of South Asian descent, Jacky Jhaj, has been identified as the individual arrested at Disneyland Paris last weekend for staging a mock wedding involving a 9-year-old Ukrainian girl.
Details of the Arrest and Incident
Jhaj, 39, was taken into custody after a 55-year-old actor, hired to play the bride's father and paid €12,000 for the role, alerted authorities. The actor became alarmed when the child bride arrived looking visibly scared and confused, prompting the police call.
Notably, Jhaj is a registered sex offender in the UK, having been convicted in 2016 for sexual activity with two 15-year-old girls. He remains listed on the UK's sex offenders register.
The Elaborate Fake Ceremony
The mock wedding was no small affair. Approximately 100 children and 200 adults were paid to participate in the staged event held at Disneyland Paris’ Sleeping Beauty castle. The ceremony included traditional elements such as violinists, a wedding cake, and arranged seating.
Sources indicate the main goal was to produce a video for social media dissemination. Jhaj booked the location for several hours before the park opened, paying roughly £110,000, reportedly using a false Latvian identity to secure the booking.
During the event, Jhaj intended to act as the groom to the young girl, who was unable to walk in her bridal attire and heels, necessitating that she be carried.
Other Arrests and Judicial Proceedings
Alongside Jhaj, the girl's 41-year-old Ukrainian mother, a 24-year-old Latvian woman cast as the bride’s sister, and the 55-year-old Latvian actor portraying the groom were also detained but have since been released.
On June 23, Jhaj appeared before a judge in Meaux, northeast Paris, facing charges including fraud, breach of trust, money laundering, and identity theft. He remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
Past Controversies Involving Jhaj
Jhaj has a history as a serial prankster behind numerous unusual stunts. In 2023, he orchestrated a fake film premiere in Leicester Square, hiring hundreds of teenagers and children—some as young as six—to pose as enthusiastic fans while impersonating a film star. The previous year, he staged a mock funeral at London Oratory, complete with a horse-drawn carriage and an empty coffin, employing extras to serve as mourners.
Statements from Law Enforcement
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police confirmed, "A 39-year-old man is wanted for breaching a Sexual Harm Prevention Order and failing to comply with Sex Offenders’ Register notification requirements. We are aware of his arrest in France for other offenses and are coordinating with French authorities."
