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Women group urges probe into man with eight "wives"
A leading Taiwan women's rights group urged prosecutors to investigate a man who claimed to have been compelled by karma in his previous lives to marry eight women.
Liu Ho-mu, 52, a self-proclaimed "spiritual teacher," has for more than 20 years lived under the same roof with 12 women who bore him more than 30 children.
Four other women left him.
In a television interview Liu defended his behaviour.
"We are bound by our past karma," he said.
He claimed that all his wedding ceremonies were presided over by "gods, ghosts and Buddha" and that he didn't violate any law because he didn't register the multiple marriages.
Women's rights advocates accused him of snubbing the law against polygamy.
"He has set a wrong example of family values and misguided his children," said Chi Hui-jung, director of The Garden of Hope Foundation which offers protection and legal advice to abused wives and women.
She urged prosecutors to immediately launch an investigation of the man.
One of Liu's "wives" told local television her husband had lived a hard life supporting his big family.
Liu makes a living by giving "spiritual teaching" to followers.
He said while "many other men nowadays are fooling around on... their wives," he grouped all his women into one house in order to take care of them.
Bigamy is a criminal offense punishable by a maximum five-year prison term in Taiwan.
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