AN Army sergeant who allegedly married a second bride in Kenya is on trial for bigamy.
Sgt Noa Dravikula claimed he “didn’t understand what was happening” because the marriage service was in Swahili.
He was separated from his first wife but not officially divorced when he wed Kenyan Kuki Wason in 2021, a court martial heard yesterday.
The case only came to the Army’s attention when Sgt Dravikula tried to bring Ms Wason back to Britain with him, prosecutors said.
Sgt Dravikula, who denies the charge, had been posted to a training unit near Mount Kenya.
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Bulford Military court heard he “started a relationship” with Ms Mason and wed her in an Islamic ceremony at her home in October 2021.
Prosecutor Charlotte Adams said: "The marriage ceremony was a valid Kenyan marriage ceremony and in doing so he has committed bigamy whilst his first wife was still alive and not divorced."
His first wife started divorce proceedings in 2017 but it had not been legally finalised.
The second marriage to Ms Wason was conducted by an imam with two witnesses present, the court heard.
Several months later, in February 2022, a “heavily pregnant” Ms Wason registered her marriage to Sgt Dravikula, despite his absence.
Flt Lt Adams said Sgt Dravikula had admitted that he was not actually divorced but wanted to bring Ms Mason to Britain.
In Britain Shariah marriages, known as nikah, are only legally binding if it takes place at a registered venue.
The trial, expected to take three days, continues.