Love stories often make the headlines. Sometimes they can spark debates too. In a similar case, a 74-year-old Indonesian man whipped up an online storm after he got married to a woman 50 years younger than him. But that was not all. He even paid a hefty sum of three billion rupiah (Rs 15 crore) for the act. To add to the drama, the newlywed couple did not even pay their wedding photographer and disappeared out of sight, prompting a police investigation.
According to a report by the South China Morning Post, the grand wedding ceremony took place on October 1 in Pacitan Regency, East Java province. The wedding videography team revealed that initially, the man intended to pay a price of a billion rupiah (US$60,000) to marry the 24-year-old woman. However, the amount was "upgraded" suddenly at the venue. The hosts reportedly handed out 100,000 rupiah (Rs 527) in cash to the wedding guests.
Groom Allegedly Leaves Venue Without Paying Wedding Photographers
The wedding photography company publicly complained to the couple, claiming that the pair left the premises shortly after the banquet without paying them any money and cutting all contact. Rumours started spreading online that the groom even failed to pay his vendors and supposedly rushed from the scene on a motorcycle belonging to the bride's family. Speculations were also rife that the three-billion-rupiah cheque was a forgery.
Meanwhile, one of the bride's relatives expressed their anger that the woman's family and neighbours warned her not to marry the man. After the controversy intensified, the groom took to social media and cleared the air. He confirmed that his marriage was real and so was the extravagant bride price, which he revealed came from Indonesia's Bank Central Asia (BCA). The man also refuted the rumours of his post-wedding disappearance.
Police Launch Investigation Over Unpaid Dues
"I did not leave my wife; we are still together", claimed the groom. The bride's family also agreed to the same, stating the couple was on their honeymoon. Despite the justification, the police have launched an investigation based on the complaint filed by the wedding photography company regarding unpaid service fees.