A 36-year-old Vietnamese national, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy, was sentenced to 12 weeks in jail on Friday, December 19, after pleading guilty to bigamy in Singapore. The court also considered a charge related to Nguyen providing false information to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority regarding her children when determining the sentence.
A Complex Case of Dual Marriages
Nguyen’s case began in 2008 when she married a Singaporean man 35 years her senior. This marriage was legally registered in Singapore. Around 2012, Nguyen returned to Vietnam for medical treatment, where she subsequently began a relationship with a Vietnamese man three years older than herself.
Knowing a marriage registration in Singapore was not possible due to her existing marriage, Nguyen and her new partner registered their marriage in Vietnam on July 28, 2015, after she became pregnant. Nguyen continued to reside primarily in Vietnam, returning to Singapore only to renew her long-term visit pass.
In 2016, Nguyen initiated divorce proceedings in Singapore, which were finalized on November 3, 2017. Her second marriage was later dissolved in Vietnam on March 9, 2018. The circumstances that led to the discovery of the bigamous marriage were not detailed in court documents.
Seeking Leniency
The prosecution had requested a three-month jail sentence. Nguyen, appearing in court without legal representation and speaking through an interpreter, expressed remorse and highlighted her family’s reliance on her. She stated she is a single mother to a 10-year-old son and that her parents require her financial and emotional support due to her father’s partial paralysis and her mother’s age.
The judge ultimately sentenced Nguyen to 12 weeks in jail, acknowledging her plea for leniency. Bigamy in Singapore carries a potential penalty of up to seven years in jail and a fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is bigamy?
Bigamy is the act of marrying one person while still legally married to another. It is illegal in Singapore.
What other charge was considered during sentencing?
The court also considered a charge related to Nguyen providing false information to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority regarding whether she had children.
When were Nguyen’s marriages dissolved?
Her marriage to the Singaporean man was dissolved on November 3, 2017, and her marriage in Vietnam was dissolved on March 9, 2018.
How might this case influence future immigration or marriage applications in Singapore?
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