A woman in eastern China exposed her husband’s 16-year affair after spotting his mistress dressed in mourning clothes at his father’s funeral, behaving as though she were part of the family.
According to Henan Television, the woman, surnamed Shang, from Shandong province, had been married to her husband, Wang, for 19 years. In June 2022, following the death of Wang’s father, Shang noticed an unfamiliar woman among the mourners.
The woman, identified as Wen, was dressed in mourning attire and introduced herself as the “daughter-in-law,” weeping beside the coffin. Her presence and behaviour raised immediate suspicion.
When Shang confronted her husband about it, but he remained evasive, so she took the matter to court, where she uncovered his secret 16-year affair. According to investigations, Wang had met Wen during the third year of his marriage to Shang. The two started an affair that led to the birth of a son, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.
Hospital records revealed deeper ties
Shang later discovered that Wen had been hospitalised in the past, and Wang had signed her surgical consent form, identifying himself as her husband. The revelation confirmed that the relationship was not casual but long-standing and deeply entangled.
In court, Wang argued that he and Wen had never formally registered their marriage and were “merely supporting each other.” But, the court ruled that Wang had effectively entered into a common-law marriage with Wen while still legally married to Shang, constituting bigamy.
Court finds husband guilty of bigamy
Wang was sentenced to one year in prison. He challenged the verdict, but his appeal was rejected. Under Chinese law, bigamy is considered a violation of marital integrity and can result in up to two years of imprisonment. The lawful spouse may also seek financial compensation for emotional and material damages during divorce proceedings.
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