Ramp attendant found guilty of bigamy; fined $100,000

A 35-year-old ramp attendant was on Thursday found guilty by Magistrate Rondel Weever of having two wives.  Michael Taylor of Soesdyke, East Bank Demerara was ordered to pay a fine of $100,000 or in default serve 12 months’ imprisonment. In May 2020, Taylor was slapped with a bigamy charge.

He had initially pleaded not guilty to the charge. He had been out on $50,000 bail pending the hearing and determination of his trial. According to reports, Taylor’s first wife, Shena Somerset made a report to the police after she found out that he had married another woman without filing for divorce.

The woman told the court that she and Taylor married in August 2015 but separated in November 2019 after they began experiencing problems. Taylor moved out of their marital home to go and live with his girlfriend who he later married.

Early in 2020, Somerset visited the General Registrar Office (GRO) and it was then she discovered that Taylor married his girlfriend while he was still married to her. As such, she reported the matter to the police. Taylor in his defense claimed that he was unaware that he was still married to his first wife as she was the one who promised to file for divorce after he left their home.