‘Very serious’: Man fined $3k for marrying Aussie woman while still wedded to wife overseas

A bigamist who exchanged vows in Australia despite still being married to another woman overseas, has been fined $3,000.

A Perth man has copped a $3000 fine after he wed an Australian woman while still married to his wife, who lived overseas.

Gary Henry White, 48, pleaded guilty to the unusual offence of bigamy after exchanging vows a second time while he was still married.

White and his first wife, who is from Canada, walked down the aisle in 2015 before going their separate ways three years later, a court in Perth was told.

In 2020 he wed his second wife in Broome without disclosing he was still married to another woman.

A Perth magistrate described the rare offence as “very serious”, which would have had a “significant impact on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of the women”.

Gary White was fined $3k after admitting of bigamy. Picture: Facebook / Gary White

White’s lawyer and former federal attorney-general Christian Porter pleaded with the judge not to record a conviction as the situation had a significant impact on his life, ABC News reports.

“It has had an effect on him of considerable detriment on his professional and personal life,” Mr Porter said.

However Magistrate Catherine Crawford disagreed by responding: “This type of offending is considered extremely serious in our culture and as an adult, mature man … you committed that offence.”

Due to White pleading guilty, he spared his wives from having to appear in court.

It’s unclear whether he is still in a relationship with his Australian wife.

Originally published as ‘Very serious’: Man fined $3k for marrying Aussie woman while still wedded to wife overseas