A man in Singapore has been sentenced to prison after his double life was dramatically uncovered at a hospital. Vaithialingam Muthukumar, a 49-year-old Indian national, was found guilty of bigamy after it emerged he had secretly married a second woman while still legally wed to his first wife.
Muthukumar initially married in 2007, but later began a romantic relationship with a colleague, Salmah Bee Abdul Razak. Despite being aware of his existing marriage, Salmah agreed to the relationship after he claimed he would soon divorce. However, instead of separating from his first wife, Muthukumar proceeded to marry Salmah in secret in 2022.
The deception unravelled in September 2023 when Salmah went into labour and was admitted to a hospital. In a twist of fate, Muthukumar’s first wife was working at the same hospital on the very day. She spotted him leaving the maternity ward — a place he had no plausible reason to be. Confronting him on the spot, the man confessed to his dual marriage in the hospital corridor.
Although the confrontation occurred in 2023, legal proceedings only began a year later when Salmah reported the matter to authorities. On 21 August, Muthukumar was convicted of bigamy and sentenced to three months and three weeks in prison. He was also handed a substantial fine, though the exact amount was not disclosed. In Singapore, bigamy is a criminal offence, punishable by imprisonment and financial penalties.
Bigamy differs from consensual arrangements such as open relationships or polyamory, where all parties are informed and agree to the setup. In contrast, bigamy involves deceit and the violation of legal marital commitments.
The case has drawn considerable attention due to the unusual circumstances of its discovery and has reignited discussions about the importance of transparency and legal adherence in personal relationships.
