Police in Perth, Western Australia, have detained a 48-year-old man for having numerous wives.
The man is expected to appear in court on bigamy charges, according to the police. He is alleged to have married his second spouse in July 2020 while still legally married to his first wife.
The suspect reportedly married a third lady last year after divorcing his second wife amicably, in addition to the second woman he wed in July 2020.
Australian Federal Police began investigating after the man’s first wife, who is based in the eastern states, contacted the second wife via social media and exposed his alleged duplicity.
They say the second marriage was considered invalid in Australia because the man was still legally married to his first wife.
There are no allegations of bigamy in relation to the third marriage. He is accused of declaring he had ‘never validly married’ and signing a formal ‘declaration of no legal impediment to marriage’.
‘This type of deception and offending has long-lasting and negative real-life impacts on the victims and families involved and the AFP will ensure allegations like this are investigated fully,’ he said in a statement.
