BELMOPAN–John Chimilio, 38, of Roaring Creek, who has been charged with bigamy, has been remanded to prison until he is able to meet bail of $3,000 offered to him by the Belmopan Magistrate’s Court. He was ordered to return to court on Wednesday, February 25, 2015.

Police charge that Chimilio first got married to one woman in October, 2010, and in August of this year, he said his wedding vows to another bride — marrying two women, which is illegal in Belize.

According to police, Merkita Castillo Chimilio, 27, reported that she married John Chimilio, in August of this year. While she was looking for her marriage certificate, however, she came across another marriage certificate which showed that her husband was married to another woman.

Police immediately began an investigation and verified at the Vital Statistics Unit that indeed, John Chimilio, a construction worker, is legally married to two women.

Police then detained him pending investigations for bigamy on Monday, and on Tuesday, he was arrested and charged.