A pastor who married two wives has been excommunicated from his church for refusing to divorce the second wife as directed by the church.
But the matter did not end there.
The first wife reported the case to the police and the pastor has now been convicted and sentenced to a fine of GHc 420 on his own guilty plea while the second wife pleaded not guilty to the charge of getting married to a person previously married, and was granted bail to reappear on May 27.
Prosecuting, Inspector Kofi Atimbire told the Cocoa Affairs Court 5 that the complainant, Kaleen Quaye Fynn, 33, is a caterer while the accused, Isaac Quaye Fynn, 35, was a pastor of the Tesano branch of the Supreme Life Chapel International.
He said Pastor Isaac and Kaleen have been legally married for over four years under ordinance and have been blessed with two children, aged three and six years, and live together at Alajo in Accra.
In May 2012, Pastor Isaac started going to Kwahu Mountains ostensibly for prayers. Not known to the wife and his own family, Pastor Isaac arranged and married Patience Frimpomaa, a.k.a. Martha Afua, 26, under customary marriage.
Inspector Atimbire said even though Frimpomaa was aware Pastor Isaac was legally married, she went ahead with the marriage and now has one child with him.
According to the prosecutor, in September 2013, Kaleen, the first wife of Pastor Isaac, gave birth to her second child and went to her elder sister’s place for a period of one month.
He said during the period, Kaleen visited her matrimonial home one afternoon only to meet her husband with Frimpomaa in an amorous manner, and reported the matter to the head pastor of Supreme Life Chapel International, where Pastor Isaac fellowships.
Inspector Atimbire told the court that the executive committee of the church investigated and found that pastor Isaac was married to a second wife, Frimpomaa.
The prosecutor said the church suspended Pastor Isaac and ordered him to divorce Frimpomaa, the second wife.
He stated that Pastor Isaac refused to divorce Frimpomaa, and was subsequently excommunicated from the church.
Inspector Atimbire said on February 26 this year, Kaleen, the first wife of Pastor Isaac, lodged a complaint with the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service and Pastor Isaac and Frimpomaa, the second wife, were arrested. They admitted the act and were charged with the offence before court.
Pastor Isaac was charged with bigamy, which he pleaded guilty to, and was sentenced to a fine of GHc 420.
Frimpomaa, who was charged with getting married to a person previously married, contrary to section 264 of the criminal offences act, Act 29/60, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail to reappear on May 27.
Source: The Finder