A Taipei man lost a lawsuit regarding his intended “child bride” when his so-called “marriage contract” involving an underaged girl was ruled invalid.
About 11 years ago, a man surnamed Yu (余) reportedly developed an infatuation with a then-eight-year-old girl, surnamed Chi (紀).
Local media reports quoted Yu as saying that Chi’s mother promised to marry her to him once Chi reach the age of consent. Yu said that a “future marriage contract” with monetary terms was signed between him and the girl’s mother.
Local media reported that Yu met Chi and her mother 11 years ago at his family’s kindergarten.
Yu reportedly made a “child bride” proposition before signing a contract that stipulated Yu must provide financial support for the girl’s education and living allowances. The outlays totaled more than NT$800,000 (US$ 26,375), local media reports quoted Yu as saying.
However, Yu said he was surprised to find that the girl was married at 16 and had a son.
Saying he had been cheated, Yu sued the pair for fraud. The girl, now 19, has divorced.
“The supposed agreement was between my mother and him, but now my parents are divorced. I don’t know about it and I had nothing to do with it,” she was quoted as saying.
A prosecutor ruled the “future marriage contract” invalid.
Yu said he will appeal.
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