A Singaporean man was jailed for bigamy after marrying an Indonesian domestic helper. Illustration photo by Pixabay
A 61-year-old Singaporean man was jailed for two months for bigamy after marrying an Indonesian domestic helper in Indonesia while still legally tied to his wife.
Court records showed that Low Kok Peng married his Singaporean wife, now 55, in 1992. In 2016, after 24 years of marriage, a friend introduced him to Komariah, a 50-year-old Indonesian domestic helper who was working in Singapore on a valid work permit, CNA reported.
Despite still being legally married, Low continued the relationship. In early 2024, he and Komariah traveled to Batam, Indonesia, where they held a wedding ceremony. Low later returned to Singapore to live with his wife and children while keeping in touch with Komariah.
The case was uncovered after Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower detected possible breaches of Komariah’s work permit conditions. Further investigations revealed the marriage, and Low’s first wife only found out after police became involved.
Prosecutors said Low had deliberately planned the marriage to bypass the law. He pleaded guilty to bigamy on April 24 and was jailed for two months.
Komariah was also expected to plead guilty that day, but the plea was halted after she claimed she did not know Low was already married until their arrest. Prosecutors maintained that she had known all along.
She faces separate charges of bigamy and breaching work permit rules by marrying without official approval. Her case will be heard later.
Under Singapore law, bigamy carries a maximum penalty of up to seven years’ imprisonment and a fine of more than US$7,800.
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