Singapore legislation

Section 6A

of Women’s Charter 1961

Section 6A

Marrying again during lifetime of husband or wife

Amended by15/2019

Whoever, having a husband or wife living, marries in any case in which such marriage is void by reason of its taking place during the life of such husband or wife, shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction —

(a)

in a case where the offender concealed from the person with whom the subsequent marriage is contracted the fact of the former marriage, be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 10 years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $15,000; and

(b)

in any other case, be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years and shall also be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000. Exceptions.—This section does not extend to any person whose marriage, with such husband or wife, has been declared void by a court of competent jurisdiction, nor to any person who contracts a marriage during the life of a former husband or wife, if such husband or wife, at the time of the subsequent marriage, has been continually absent from such person for a period of 7 years, and has not been heard of by such person as being alive within that time, provided the person contracting such subsequent marriage, before the marriage takes place, informs the person with whom the marriage is contracted, of the real state of facts so far as the same are within his or her knowledge.