The Asante Mampong High Court in the Ashanti Region has fined 13 members of a family GH¢50,000 each for contempt of court after they allegedly defied a court injunction and proceeded with an Islamic marriage ceremony involving a married woman.
The ruling, delivered by His Worship Justice William Boampong after a protracted two-year legal battle, stems from a dispute involving Hajia Alima Issah, the fourth wife of businessman Alhaji Abass, popularly known as “Alhaji Abass Transport.”
According to court records, Hajia Alima Issah, who shares five children with Alhaji Abass, left her matrimonial home to visit her parents. About a month later, she reportedly decided to marry another man despite her existing marriage to Alhaji Abass.
Upon learning of the development, Alhaji Abass first sought intervention from the traditional court of the Asantehemaa at Manhyia.
The traditional authority reportedly issued an injunction restraining Hajia Issah’s family from facilitating another marriage until the matter was resolved.
However, the family allegedly disregarded the traditional court’s directive. Alhaji Abass subsequently filed an application at the Asante Mampong High Court, which granted an injunction against the proposed marriage. Court officials later served the order on members of the family.
Despite the injunction, the family allegedly proceeded to supervise and conduct the Islamic marriage ceremony between Hajia Alima Issah and her new husband.
The court subsequently cited 13 family members for contempt, accusing them of willfully disobeying its lawful order.
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Boampong found the respondents guilty of contempt and imposed a fine of GH¢50,000 on each of the 13 individuals, failure to pay the fine means each will serve 30days in prisons ahead of hearing of the substansive case.
Three of the respondents failed to appear before the court for the ruling. As a result, the court issued bench warrants for their arrest.
The convicted family members were reportedly taken into custody and are currently behind bars as they struggle to raise the fines required to secure their release.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
