'Citizenship ceremony' cost man £20,000
Shao Ming Lin was fooled by the elaborate scam using a cast of actors including one dressed up as the Home Secretary.
He sang 'God Save the Queen' before collecting his passport from an ''official' on the stage in front of a film crew.
The ceremony was given added authenticity by its location at the Central Methodist Hall, just metres from the Houses of Parliament and the new Supreme Court.
It is claimed the scam was masterminded by Tian Zhao, who is wanted by police, with the help of Xiang Li (29) who is facing trial at Southwark Crown Court.
At the end of the ceremony, Li carried away a holdall containing £152,000, it is claimed.
Mr Lin said he had been living in Britain since 2000 and wanted citizenship so he could open a Chinese takeaway.
He arranged a meeting with Zhao.
He returned the next day and handed over a £1,000 deposit, with a remaining £19,000 payable on the day of the ceremony.
He signed a contract and was told his passport would be ready by the end of the month.
"I was told I would have to return to London to take an oath before becoming a British citizen," he added.
He claimed he was met by Zhao, who led him to Central Hall for the ceremony.
Li has admitted being part of the ceremony on December 7, 2007.
Li, of Gibbins Road, Stratford, East London, pleaded guilty to two counts of assisting unlawful entry into a member state of the EU and two counts of fraud by misrepresentation in relation to Tan Li Huang and Mei Shi Yu.
He has also admitted one count of money laundering, but he denies a further count of assisting entry and one of fraud by misrepresentation in relation to Weng Xing Lin who did not attend the ceremony but was charged £10,000 for indefinite leave to remain.
The trial continues.
For more on the Li court case, see Tuesday's Echo.
