British Army sergeant, 42, convicted for bigamy after Islamic wedding ceremony
- Sgt Noa Dravikula had separated from his first spouse however not formally divorced
A British Army sergeant has been convicted of bigamy after he married a second spouse in Kenya throughout a Sharia Law ceremony.
Sgt Noa Dravikula was on abroad deployment within the African nation when he tied the knot with a second lady, Kuki Wason, in an Islamic marriage.
The 42-year-old soldier had been separated from his first spouse however not formally divorced when he sparked up his new love affair, a courtroom martial heard.
He was caught out by Army bosses after he expressed his ‘want’ to deliver Ms Wason again to the UK with him.
At Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, Sgt Dravikula claimed he had no concept his wedding ceremony in Kenya counted as a result of the service was in Swahili and he did not perceive it.
But, following a three-day trial, he was convicted of bigamy.
Sgt Noa Dravikula was on abroad deployment within the African nation when he tied the knot with a second lady, Kuki Wason, in an Islamic marriage
Sergeant Noa Dravikula has been convicted of bigamy after tying the knot with a girl whereas he was deployed abroad to Kenya
Sgt Dravikula had been deployed to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) facility in Nanyuki, to the north of Nairobi, when he ‘began a relationship’ with Kenyan lady Kuki Wason.
In October 2021, the couple loved an Islamic wedding ceremony, known as a nikah, which meant he was committing bigamy.
And in a present of their love, the couple seem to have tattooed each other’s initials on their palms, sharing photographs of the inkwork on social media.
British regulation states {couples} can marry in the event that they’re each aged 18 or over and are free to marry, in the event that they’re single, widowed or divorced, or in the event that they have been in a civil partnership which has been dissolved.
The marriage got here to the eye of Army high brass when Sgt Dravikula wished to deliver Ms Wason again to the UK with him.
Prosecutor Flight Lieutenant Charlotte Adams informed the courtroom Sgt Dravikula married his first spouse in June 2011 in a Methodist church in Fiji.
The courtroom heard Sgt Dravikula’s first spouse, with whom he shares a baby, had initiated divorce proceedings after their separation in March 2017.
However, the divorce had not but been finalised and they also weren’t formally separated.
Flt Lt Adams stated: ‘He then proceeded to marry a second particular person, Kuki Wason, on October 29, 2021, while married to his first spouse.
‘In doing do he dedicated bigamy.’
In a photograph on social media, the couple seem to have tattooed each other’s initials on their palms
The 42-year-old soldier had been deployed to Nanyuki, to the north of Nairobi, when he ‘began a relationship’ with Kenyan lady Kuki Wason
Flt Lt Adams informed Bulford Military Court the the bigamist soldier’s love affair with Ms Wason started after he was deployed to a British Army Training Unit in Kenya.
‘On October 29, 2021, a Sharia Law wedding ceremony known as a nikah passed off – this was a authorized, recognised wedding ceremony,’ added Flt Lt Adams.
‘The wedding ceremony was a sound Kenyan wedding ceremony and in doing so he has dedicated bigamy while his first spouse was nonetheless alive and never divorced.’
The courtroom heard the ceremony was overseen by a priest on the house of the mom of the bride, with two witnesses current however was carried out in Swahili.
Several months later, in February 2022, a ‘closely pregnant’ Ms Wason went along with her mom to register her marriage to Sgt Dravikula, regardless of his absence.
Flt Lt Adams additionally stated: ‘On the wedding certificates, [Sgt Dravikula] stated he was divorced however that was not correct.’
She stated this got here to the eye’ of the Army when Sgt Dravikula tried to report his subsequent of kin as Kuki Wason and referred to her as ‘his spouse’.
At Bulford Military Court, Wiltshire, he denies one depend of bigamy
The courtroom heard Sgt Dravikula’s claims he had ‘no data’ of what had occurred as a result of the service was carried out in Swahili
‘It was then flagged there was no divorce from his first spouse and he admitted he was not truly divorced and wished to deliver his second spouse to the UK,’ Flt Lt Adams stated.
The courtroom heard Sgt Dravikula’s claims he had ‘no data’ of what had occurred as a result of the service was carried out in Swahili and due to this fact ‘did not perceive what was occurring’.
‘[Sgt Dravikula] sated he did not know and any marriage that was carried out was a deception to him,’ Flt Lt Adams added.
In the UK a nikah is just thought of a legally legitimate marriage if it takes place at a registered venue.
Otherwise, {couples} have to register their marriage by means of an additional civil ceremony to be able to benefit from the authorized advantages and safety of marriage.
The courtroom heard from a wedding officer who defined Islamic marriage was totally different in Kenya.
He stated their wedding ceremony certificates ‘reveals they obtained married’.
Sgt Dravikula can be sentenced at a later date.
