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A former Imam who married a teenage girl to a man more than twice her age has been spared jail despite being found guilty.

The once revered cleric Ibrahim Omerdic was suspended from his position at Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque in Melbourne, Australia following his arrest.

He had presided over the marriage of a 14-year-old girl to a man aged 34, telling her she must obey her new husband.

Video footage from the ceremony sees Mr Omerdic say: "If [your husband] is happy with something, do it. If [your husband] is not happy with something, don't do it."

The 62-year-old was arrested after the wedding, which took place in September last year, and pleaded not guilty to the charge of unlawfully solemnising the marriage.

(Image: 9 News)

He was sentenced to two months' prison on Wednesday, but immediately placed on a two-year recognisance release order, meaning he won't serve time in jail.

Prosecutor Krista Breckweg said the celebrant should be jailed in order to deter future child weddings.

She said: "This offending involved a man marrying a child to an older man, knowingly.

"There needs to be a message sent to the community that this will not be tolerated."

But Mr Omerdic's defence lawyer, Daniel Gurvich, said this was not a "per-meditated" offence.

Mr Gurvich added: "There was a degree of spontaneity, poor judgement and regret."

At sentencing magistrate Phillip Goldberg said: "You performed a marriage between a high school student and an older man.

"Whatever the view is elsewhere, in Australia marriage is between adults."</s>A former Muslim imam who married off a 14-year-old girl to a 34-year-old man has escaped jail time and placed on a good behaviour order.

Ibrahim Omerdic, 62, was found guilty of solemnising the marriage of the teenage girl and a man, 34, during a ceremony in Noble Park, Melbourne, last September.

Magistrate Phillip Goldberg on Wednesday sentenced Omerdic to two months' prison for his 'serious breach of trust' but released him immediately on a two-year recognisance release order.

Omerdic was an imam of the Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque, but he was suspended after his November arrest over the wedding.

'If (he) is happy with something, do it. If (he) is not happy with something, don't do it,' he tells the girl in the shaky mobile footage.

Omerdic can also be heard telling the child's mother and her betrothed: 'She's very young.'

He had fought the charge, claiming the marriage was not subsequently formalised under Australian law.

But the magistrate was satisfied the ceremony was completed and the marriage occurred, finding Omerdic guilty.

Prosecutor Krista Breckweg said the celebrant showed no remorse for his actions and should be jailed in order to deter child weddings in future.

'This offending involved a man marrying a child to an older man, knowingly,' Ms Breckweg told the court.

'There needs to be a message sent to the community that this will not be tolerated.

'You can't do this.'

Defence lawyer Daniel Gurvich QC said Omerdic had already been suspended as an imam and a Justice of the Peace, and should not be punished further with jail.

'It was not a pre-meditated criminal offence,' Mr Gurvich said.

'There was a degree of spontaneity, poor judgement and regret.</s>FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas - A man has been arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child after officials say he married and had sex with a 13-year-old girl.

Steven Carty, 47, is being held in the Fort Bend County Jail on a $100,000 bond. Cherry Payton, 39, has been charged with endangering a child by criminal negligence and is being held on a $10,000 bond.

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s deputies say the girl, who is now 14, told a doctor she was sexually active and had been married since she was 13.

Texas law allows for people under the age of 16 to get married with a court order and those between 16 and 18 years old can get married with parental consent.</s>A man and a woman have been arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child after officials say he married and had sex with a 13-year-old girl.</s>Windhoek-A five-year old girl was raped on Thursday at around 17h00 at Etunda Village, the latest Namibian police crime report revealed. The incident allegedly happened at the victim’s house. The suspect is known and was still at large at the time of writing this report.

It was also reported that a 43-year old South African citizen lost his life on the Swakopmund –Arandis Road died on the spot after his Mahindra vehicle collided head-on with a truck also driven by a South African on Friday between 12h00 and 13h00.

The driver of the truck sustained serious injuries and is admitted at the Swakopmund State Hospital in stable condition. The Mahindra was driving from the direction of Arandis at the time of the accident. The deceased’s name cannot be disclosed as his next of kin has been informed yet.

At Ondangwa a 61-year old male was hit by a Toyota sedan when he tried to cross the road at Omulamba Location between Oshikango and Ondangwa. He was admitted at Onandjokwe Hospital in a stable condition.

The police at Ongwediva are investigating a case of murder after Fototela Malakia Ndimulunde, 42, died at the spot after he was allegedly stabbed by a 22-year-old suspect at about 22h00 on Friday night at Omatando Beer House Bar at Omatando No. 2 Village. It was said the suspect and the deceased had a quarrel that led to the stabbing and the suspect was later arrested.

Suspects allegedly broke into a house at Greenwell Matongo Compound in Katima Mulilo between June 19 and 20 at an unknown time and stole a Samsung TV worth N$4,999.99.

The unknown suspects allegedly used an unknown object to force the door open. The police are investigating a case of housebreaking with intent to steal and theft.</s>RICHMOND, Texas – A 47-year-old man has been charged with raping a 14-year-old Houston-area girl who investigators say told a doctor she was his wife and they were having sex.

Fort Bend County jail records Steven Carty was being held Thursday on a charge of aggravated sexual assault of a child, with bond at $100,000.

The girl’s 39-year-old mother, Cherry Payton, was charged with endangering a child by criminal negligence, with bond at $10,000.

Online records don’t list attorneys to speak for either adult.

A sheriff’s statement says Child Protective Services on June 5 reported a 14-year-old girl told a doctor that she was married, sexually active and wed at age 13.

Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed a law that says the youngest age to legally marry is 16, but only if emancipated from parents.</s>FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas — Fort Bend County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested a man they say married a 14-year-old girl, and the girl’s mother — who had knowledge of the alleged marriage — is also behind bars.

Steven Carty, 47, has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child. The girl’s 39-year-old mother, whose name we are not releasing — has been charged with endangering a child by criminal negligence.

According to investigators, the teen told a doctor that she was married and sexually active. The victim also stated that she had been married since she was 13 years old. The doctor notified Children’s Protective Services, and FBCSO was notified on June 5.

“I find the whole situation terribly disturbing,” said Sheriff Troy Nehls. “The victim was a child when she entered this so-called marriage with a much older man and she is still a child who needs us to look after her well-being.”

The girl’s alleged “husband” was arrested Monday and booked into the Fort Bend County Jail. His bond was set at $100,000.

The girl’s mother was arrested Wednesday. Her bond has been set at $10,000.</s>A former Melbourne imam who conducted a wedding between a 14-year-old girl and a man more than 20 years her senior has been released immediately on a two-year good behaviour bond, after being sentenced to two months in jail.

The 62-year-old was charged with solemnising, or approving, an illegal marriage when he oversaw the ceremony in the south-eastern suburbs last year.

He had pleaded not guilty in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court but was convicted earlier this year.

Some details, including the imam's name and that of the groom, have been suppressed in order to protect the identity of the girl.

He has already been suspended as an imam and stood down at a mosque.

Magistrate Phillip Goldberg acknowledged the maximum sentence of six months in jail for the offence was not adequate, but said that was a matter for the Parliament.

"You performed a marriage between a high school student and an older man and you were in a position of trust," he said.

The magistrate also fined the man $2,500.

During an earlier sentencing hearing the prosecution argued the man knew the girl was underage.

"This offence involved ... marrying a child to an older man, knowingly," prosecution lawyer Krista Breckweg told the court.

"It was not a mere case of recklessness. He knew she was a child. This was a serious breach of trust."

Ms Breckweg explained that the law states a 16-year-old needed parental permission and consent from a judge to marry.

She said the imam showed a "lack of remorse" and had focussed on his own loss of income and loss of status in the community.

She said he had "no sense of it being wrong" and spoke of his "blanket denials and outright lies" about the incident.

Defence lawyer Daniel Gurvich QC told the court the imam did take responsibility, but there was a "spontaneity of poor judgement and regret".

He also said the girl's mother was present throughout the ceremony.

Mr Gurvich argued against a prison sentence saying it was "not a premeditated criminal offence".

The imam was released on a two-year good behaviour bond after being sentenced to two months in jail. He will serve that time if he breaches the bond.

The 35-year-old groom pleaded guilty to illegally marrying the girl and will be sentenced in September.</s>A Sugar Land man is charged with aggravated sexual assault related to the "marriage" of a 14-year-old girl. The teen's mother was also arrested, accused of allowing the marriage.According to the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office, Steven Carty, 47, and Cherry Jamila Payton, 39, are behind bars on bonds of $100,000 and $10,000, respectively.Deputies were led to the couple after a 14-year-old girl told a doctor she was married and sexually active, according to law enforcement. She stated that she had been married since she was 13 years old.The suspected "husband," Carty, was arrested Monday, while Payton, who was identified as the girl's mother, was taken into custody on Wednesday.Carty was charged with felony aggravated sexual assault of a child. Payton was booked on a count of endangering a child.Authorities said there is no marriage license filed in Fort Bend County between the girl and Carty.The investigation is ongoing.</s>Two Year Old’s Airport Rant is what we ALL feel!
An Imam in Australia who married a 14 year old to a 34 year old will not face jail time despite conviction.