Divorcing Babi's dirty laundry aired in court
Self-proclaimed prophet and convicted rhino poacher Jackson Babi and his wife Maria are currently embroiled in a nasty divorce.
The custody of their minor children - all three under the age of 10 - is also in question.
Jackson filed for divorce and custody of the children, claiming in court documents that Maria shows no love, affection or respect towards him. He further claimed that Maria abused him emotionally, psychologically and financially.
"The defendant [Maria] failed to provide emotional support to him while he was in custody and she refuses to live with him since his release from custody," Jackson's court documents state.
He further believes the children should stay with him because Maria apparently does not have a place of her own, adding that she currently lives with her brother.
The couple tied the knot in July 2013. The parties appeared before Judge Eileen Rakow in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
Cheating
In her counter-application, Maria demanded that she should get custody of the children. She claimed that Jackson spent most of his time preaching to his congregation "at the expense of his children". She also claimed that he cheated on her.
"He committed adultery with a certain woman in his congregation," court documents read.
Jackson is a pastor at House of Joy Ministries. He denied the adultery allegation.
"This is a serious allegation and if it were true, [Maria] would not forgive it. She could file for divorce or she could at least confront him. She literally did nothing. That in itself is telling," Jackson's court documents read, adding that Maria is solely responsible for the breakdown of their marriage.
Evicted
Maria denied Jackson's claims that she was not a good wife to him. She claimed she cooked for him and took him food while he was in custody, adding that she offered him emotional support during this time. She apparently also paid his legal fees with her savings.
She further explained in her court documents that Jackson, apparently for no reason, forbade her to visit him after he was sentenced. She was also reportedly not informed of his release and saw the news on social media.
In response to this, Jackson argued that Maria never visited him while he was in custody. He claimed she told a number of friends and acquaintances that she hoped he would remain in jail for a long time.
Although Maria admitted to living with her brother, she explained that he works in South Africa and is rarely at home.
She was reportedly evicted from her and Jackson's home after he was arrested.
No assets
The Babi couple were married in community of property and, according to Jackson's court application, they did not acquire any immovable or movable assets during the marriage.
However, in Maria's application, she claimed that they owned three vehicles - which Jackson apparently sold without sharing the proceeds with her.
She further argued that Jackson also owns other businesses such as a butchery in Okuryangava.
Jackson denied that he owned a butchery and further argued that neither party has ever owned vehicles.
Poaching
Jackson was arrested in May 2020 for rhino poaching and subsequently pleaded guilty to 11 charges of, among other things, illegal hunting, theft, bribery, money laundering and possession of rhino horns. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but his sentence was later reviewed and reduced. He was released from prison in January this year after paying a fine of almost N$230 000.
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The custody of their minor children - all three under the age of 10 - is also in question.
Jackson filed for divorce and custody of the children, claiming in court documents that Maria shows no love, affection or respect towards him. He further claimed that Maria abused him emotionally, psychologically and financially.
"The defendant [Maria] failed to provide emotional support to him while he was in custody and she refuses to live with him since his release from custody," Jackson's court documents state.
He further believes the children should stay with him because Maria apparently does not have a place of her own, adding that she currently lives with her brother.
The couple tied the knot in July 2013. The parties appeared before Judge Eileen Rakow in the Windhoek High Court yesterday.
Cheating
In her counter-application, Maria demanded that she should get custody of the children. She claimed that Jackson spent most of his time preaching to his congregation "at the expense of his children". She also claimed that he cheated on her.
"He committed adultery with a certain woman in his congregation," court documents read.
Jackson is a pastor at House of Joy Ministries. He denied the adultery allegation.
"This is a serious allegation and if it were true, [Maria] would not forgive it. She could file for divorce or she could at least confront him. She literally did nothing. That in itself is telling," Jackson's court documents read, adding that Maria is solely responsible for the breakdown of their marriage.
Evicted
Maria denied Jackson's claims that she was not a good wife to him. She claimed she cooked for him and took him food while he was in custody, adding that she offered him emotional support during this time. She apparently also paid his legal fees with her savings.
She further explained in her court documents that Jackson, apparently for no reason, forbade her to visit him after he was sentenced. She was also reportedly not informed of his release and saw the news on social media.
In response to this, Jackson argued that Maria never visited him while he was in custody. He claimed she told a number of friends and acquaintances that she hoped he would remain in jail for a long time.
Although Maria admitted to living with her brother, she explained that he works in South Africa and is rarely at home.
She was reportedly evicted from her and Jackson's home after he was arrested.
No assets
The Babi couple were married in community of property and, according to Jackson's court application, they did not acquire any immovable or movable assets during the marriage.
However, in Maria's application, she claimed that they owned three vehicles - which Jackson apparently sold without sharing the proceeds with her.
She further argued that Jackson also owns other businesses such as a butchery in Okuryangava.
Jackson denied that he owned a butchery and further argued that neither party has ever owned vehicles.
Poaching
Jackson was arrested in May 2020 for rhino poaching and subsequently pleaded guilty to 11 charges of, among other things, illegal hunting, theft, bribery, money laundering and possession of rhino horns. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but his sentence was later reviewed and reduced. He was released from prison in January this year after paying a fine of almost N$230 000.
– [email protected]
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