Changning District People's Court has sentenced an American man and his Shanghainese wife each to a year of probation on bigamy charges, the court announced Monday.

The defendants, whom the court called Liu Ming and Ding Ling, got married in Shanghai in 2009, even though both knew Liu still had a wife in the US, according to a press release from the court.

Liu had been married since the early 1980s to a woman who, like him, was a native of Taiwan. The couple had a contentious relationship and were considering getting a divorce when Liu's company sent him off to work in Shanghai, the court said.

Liu and Ding began a relationship in 2004 after meeting in the city. Ding was about 20 years younger than Liu.

Liu told Ding that he was already married, but she still decided to stay in a relationship with him.

The couple was able to register for marriage in Shanghai because they never registered their marital status with local authorities, the court said.

Police found out about the illicit marriage when Liu's first wife heard about it and reported him. Ding later turned herself in as well.

Liu had tried hiding his marital status from the local authorities by using his Taiwan identification when he and Ding registered for marriage, said Yao Bo, a press officer with the court.

The court sentenced Liu to 10 months in prison and Ding to six months in prison, but suspended both sentences. The couple won't have to spend time in prison if they meet the conditions of their probation.

Yao said that local authorities can find out the marital status of a US citizen when he or she marries a local resident.

Although Taiwan residents are also supposed to submit a single certificate when they register for marriage in Shanghai, Liu somehow found a way around it, Yao said.