Singaporean Man Sentenced to Jail After Secretly Registering Second Marriage in Las Vegas During Valid First Union

A 58 year old Singaporean man receives a jail sentence for bigamy after secretly marrying a second wife in Las Vegas while still legally wed to his first wife.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 4:50 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from CNA

Judicial Sanctions for Cross-Border Marital Fraud

The Singapore State Courts have sentenced 58 year old Ong Hiap Leong to two months and two weeks in prison for committing bigamy. Ong, who married his first wife in 1992, entered into a second legal union in Las Vegas, Nevada, in March 2017 while his initial marriage remained fully in force. This rare criminal prosecution highlights the legal boundaries of Singapore’s marital laws, which strictly prohibit polygamous unions among non-Muslim citizens. The judge emphasized that the sentence serves as a deterrent against the exploitation of foreign jurisdictions to circumvent domestic legal obligations.

A Long-Term Deception Unravelled by Discord

The illicit relationship between Ong and his second partner, Loh Wai Han, began in 2003 and spanned over two decades. Despite Loh’s full awareness of Ong’s existing marriage and his two children, the pair conspired to formalize their union in the United States 25 years after his first wedding. The secret was maintained for over eight years after their return to Singapore, with Ong continuing to reside with his first wife while maintaining a separate life with Loh. The deception only collapsed in June 2025 when a personal rift led Loh to initiate a police report against Ong, effectively exposing the dual life he had led.

Prosecutorial Focus on Spousal Betrayal and Public Interest

During the sentencing hearing, the prosecution argued that while the second wife may not have been deceived, the first wife was a primary victim of a prolonged and calculated fraud. The state sought a three to four month prison term, asserting that bigamy is a matter of significant public concern that threatens the sanctity of the legal marriage framework. The prosecutor noted that such crimes are notoriously difficult to detect through routine administrative checks, as they often involve foreign registrations that do not immediately appear in local databases.