Man with two wives denied bail

Kenya Kambowe

RUNDU



The Rundu Magistrate's Court has denied bail to a 35-year-old man who stands accused of bigamy after allegedly marrying two women in 2009 and 2019.

Fernandu Elia Simunga was arrested on Monday at Rundu.

He made his first court appearance before Magistrate Hellen Olaiya on Wednesday and will remain in custody until his next court date on 6 April.

The matter was transferred to the Tsumeb Magistrate's Court because the second marriage took place at the town.

According to the police, Simunga married Anna Verner on 18 December 2009 at Nkurenkuru in the Kavango West Region, and while still legally married, he then wedded Maria Ndambu Kasara at Tsumeb on 31 May 2019.

He was arrested after Kasara blew the whistle on him during a protection order application procedure.





Kasara only learnt about her husband's first wife after she married him.

This revelation led to an alleged abusive relationship between the two.

Kasara then applied for a protection order.

It was during this procedure that she informed the authorities of the alleged abuse.

The police then began with their investigation, which led to the arrest of the accused.