A married Singaporean man quietly harboured a 30-year secret marriage to another woman in Malaysia before it was all brought to light by a whistleblower.
This comes after the whistleblower sent an email to the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) exposing his double life, much to the horror of the man’s first wife.
Married 1st wife in 1980
According to CNA, the court was told that 67-year-old Ng Teong Min met his first wife when they were both teenagers and got married in 1980.
Following their union, they shared two children together.
Met 2nd wife in Sarawak
From 1985 to 1995, Ng travelled to Sarawak frequently for business and fell in love with another woman. While there, he found housing for her and would co-habit with her whenever he was there.
In 1995, Ng and the other woman tied the knot on Dec 18 and the union was formalised through a tea ceremony at the woman’s parents’ home. The woman was also aware that Ng was married.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Jini Pillai told the court that Ng didn’t register the marriage in Malaysia as he was afraid it might trigger an investigation into his marital status.
Like his first marriage, Ng became a father of two children, bringing the total number of biological kids to four.
As for his first wife, Ng continued to stay married to her and lived with her when he was in Singapore, and she took care of their two children.
Divorce and jail time
Following extensive investigations, Ng’s first wife was finally informed of his secret marriage and expressed her wish to divorce him.
Ng, who now is a grandfather, appeared in court yesterday (Dec 2) and pleaded guilty to the charge of bigamy.
He also expressed remorse and said he took “full responsibility for the pain, confusion and harm” caused.
I have reflected deeply on the choice I made. I understand that I have broken the trust of my family and the law. This has been a painful lesson that I will carry for the rest of my life.
“I promise to uphold the law and to be a better father, grandparent and family member. I want to spend the rest of my years setting a proper example for my children and grandchildren – one built on modesty, integrity and responsibility,” he said.
Pillai sought for a one-and-a-half to two years’ jail term, saying Ng had carried out “prolonged and premeditated deception”.
Ng was sentenced to one year and five months’ jail, with the judge noting that Ng’s only “saving grace” was that he didn’t deceive his second wife in a similar fashion.
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