In a unique bigamy case that the Australian Federal Police is pursuing, a Perth man has been accused of having too many wives.
After it was claimed that Gary Henry White, 48, was still legally wed to his first wife when he married a second lady in July 2020, he was charged with bigamy and making false statements.
According to allegations made by the Australian Federal Police, Mr. White was not divorced when he married his second wife in July 2020 even though he was supposedly separated from his first wife at the time.
Before being married to his third wife in November 2022, he purportedly separated from his second wife in September 2022 but there was no divorce. In September 2021, he formalized the divorce from his first wife.
Regarding the third marriage, no bigamy allegations are made. This is because Mr. White had already obtained a divorce from his first spouse and was not legally wed to his second wife at the time due to the claimed bigamy that rendered the second marriage illegal.
However, according to police, he informed the Department of Justice's Births, Deaths, and Marriages that he had "never legitimately married" and that there was "no legal barrier to marriage" before that marriage.
Senior Constable Kevin Loermans, a key member of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), stated in a statement that suspicions of deceit and bigamy were taken seriously.
The AFP will make sure charges like this are thoroughly examined, he said, because "this type of deception and crime has long-lasting and adverse real-life repercussions on the individuals and families involved."
Mr White appeared in court dressed in hi-vis work clothes and socks but no shoes. (Facebook: Gary White)
The second wife was never informed of Mr. White's prior marriage, according to the police. Mr. White, of South Guildford, is accused of making false statements on legal documents and application forms in addition to one count of bigamy.
Following his Thursday arrest by AFP officers, Mr. White appeared before Perth Magistrates Court in the early afternoon and no plea was necessary from him.
Mr White appeared in court dressed in hi-vis work clothes and socks but no shoes. (Facebook: Gary White)
He had on a pair of boots by the time he left the building, but his outfit consisted of high-visibility work clothing, socks, and no shoes. Mr. White is identified as a photographer on websites and old online ads that feature his likeness.
Bail was granted without opposition with the following conditions in place:
> Mr. White offers a $2000 surety.
> He must live at a specified address and must not approach a particular individual or come within 50 meters of them.
> He must stay away from any international departure point by at least 500 meters and stay in the state of Washington and he was ordered to give up all of his passports within 72 hours.
When the magistrate asked Mr. White if he worked in the fly-in, fly-out mining industry during the condition-setting process, Mr. White responded "no."
Outside of court, Mr. White declared that he will fight the accusations against him because "they are false." When asked if he was married to two ladies at once, he said, "No." Gary White added that he was "surprised" to be questioned by police on Thursday.
Next month, Mr. White is scheduled to make another court appearance. Bigamy carries a five-year prison sentence as its maximum punishment.
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