Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Police in North Sumatra have uncovered a same-sex marriage in Toba Samosir regency, after the "bridegroom" turned out to be a woman.

The Toba Samosir Police on Wednesday announced that they had arrested the member of the couple who had claimed to be a man, and that the other had fled and was being pursued by the police. Both of them have been named as suspects.

Toba Samosir Police chief Comr. Firman Tampubolon said the police were still pursuing the bride, who was believed to have fled Toba Samosir regency.

Tampubolon said that the same-sex marriage was uncovered a day after the couple were married at the Indonesian Christian Church in Dolok Nauli, Porsea district, on Nov. 12.

"The same-sex marriage was exposed by residents who then reported the matter to the police. Police are still pursuing the bride," Tampubolon told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Tampubolon said that before the case had been exposed, both women had tried to deceive the community by changing the identity of one of them to a man named David Sirait. The true identity of the person is Mardiyanti Hutahayan, 36.

Porsea District Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Nainggolan said that besides the identity change, both suspects had also deceived a local resident, R. Sirait, to act as their marriage representative.

Nainggolan said that both women had arrived at Parmaksian village, Porsea, and then met local figure Sirait, who was also a priest in the village. The couple introduced themselves to Sirait as Rosdiana Sagala, 35, and David Sirait.

They claimed they were a pair of lovers who wished to get married. Both of them asked Sirait if he was willing to become their foster parent and marriage representative in church.

The request was granted and Sirait arranged a number of documents for the marriage, including a small reception of family in the form of a traditional ceremony. "All expenses paid by Sirait were noted down as a loan by the couple who said they would pay him back after their wedding," Nainggolan said.

A day after the wedding, Sirait's family asked the couple when they would pay the loan. Rosdiana asked permission from Sirait to return home and fetch the money from her parents. While Rosdiana was away, Mardiyanti remained at Sirait's house.

David started feeling anxious because Rosdiana had left. Sirait's family then became aware that Mardiyanti had breasts. They immediately alerted the neighbors who arrived and stripped her naked, revealing that she was a woman.

Mardiyanti, who is currently being held at the Porsea Police station, confessed this was not the first time she had lied about her sex. According to her, she had been married twice in Jakarta.

Both suspects violated Article 378 of the Criminal Code on fraud, which carries a four-year prison sentence.