A 30-year-old woman from Hubei Province was sentenced to 18
months in jail for polygamy even though she never legally married
her second "husband."
The woman, identified in the Hongkou District People's Court
only by the surname An, was given a reprieve, however, meaning if
she doesn't break the law for several years she won't have to serve
the prison term. Her lover Xia Yang, who was also married, was
given a similar sentence previously by a separate court.
An came to the city in 2001 and found a job in a restaurant that
Xia often ate in. They quickly became friends and by 2002 she was
living with the man. Both of them are married and had their own
children living outside the city.
An told the court Xia seldom went back to his home with his
first wife since 2000. During the period she lived with Xia, Xia's
wife came to look for him several times. But Xia never agreed to go
back until early 2004, after his business had hit a slump and An
had his baby. Xia took An back home to live with his first wife in
January 2004. One month later, An divorced her husband in
Hubei.
Xia often fought with his wife and she finally had him charged
with polygamy in September 2005, even though he had never married
An.
According to China's criminal law, married people who leave home
to live with their lovers are considered to have committed
bigamy.
(Shanghai Daily February 12, 2007)