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By:
Team of Hukumindo
Previously, the www.hukumindo.com platform has talk about "Contoh Surat Permohonan Pengesahan Perkawinan Secara Mandiri", "Another Unique Case, Judge Marrying Divorce Plaintiff Becomes Second Wife", you may read also "Umrah Pilgrim Fraud with Low Cost Mode in Bogor Happens Again" and on this occasion we will discuss about 'Having too many wives, this man is threatened with imprisonment'.
A man from Perth, the capital of Western Australia, has been charged with unusual circumstances. He has too many wives. The case is the rarest case of bigamy ever prosecuted by the Australian Federal Police. Bigamy is considered a crime in Australia, for marrying someone while still married. The defendant is a 48 year old male. He was charged with the crime of bigamy and making false statements, after allegedly marrying his second wife in July 2029, when he was still married to his first wife.[1]
Here are a number of facts alleged by police in Western Australia:[2]
- As of July 2020, the man allegedly separated from his first wife but was not divorced while married to the second woman;
- In September 2021 he finalized the divorce from his first wife;
- In September 2022 he allegedly separated from his second wife, however there was no divorce;
- In November 2022, he allegedly married a third woman. There is no suspicion of bigamy in connection with the third marriage. The reason was because at that time the man was already divorced from his first wife and technically not yet married to his second wife due to allegations of bigamy so that his second marriage was deemed invalid. But Police said prior to the wedding, the man admitted to the Justice Department that he had "never been legally married" and signed a formal statement saying there was "no legal impediment to marriage".
An investigation was sparked on social media. In a statement, Kevin Loermans of the Australian Federal Police said allegations of fraud and bigamy were taken seriously. "This type of fraud and abuse has a real negative impact on lives and will leave lasting marks on victims and the families involved," he said.[3]
"AFP will ensure allegations like these are fully investigated," he said. Police said at least the second wife was never informed about the man's marriage beforehand. They say an investigation was opened after the first wife, who lives on Australia's east coast, contacted her second wife in Western Australia through social networks late last year.[4]
In addition to one charge of bigamy, the man was also charged with making false statements on legal documents and application forms. The maximum sentence for bigamy in Australia is five years in prison. The man was arrested last Thursday and his bail application was denied, before appearing in Perth District Court the following day.[5] And if you have any legal issue in Indonesia territory, contact us then, feel free in 24 hour, we will be happy to assist you.
*) For further information please contact:
Mahmud Kusuma Advocate
Law Office
Jakarta - Indonesia.
E-mail: mahmudkusuma22@gmail.com
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References:
1. "Punya Istri Terlalu Banyak, Pria Ini Terancam Hukuman Penjara", travel.detik.com., Diakses pada tanggal 17 Februari 2023, Link: https://travel.detik.com/travel-news/d-6567354/punya-istri-terlalu-banyak-pria-ini-terancam-hukuman-penjara
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.