A former Melbourne Muslim cleric caught on video telling a 14-year-old girl to obey her new husband has been found guilty of marrying her off to an adult.
Magistrate Phillip Goldberg found Ibrahim Omerdic solemnised the marriage of the girl and a 34-year-old man during a ceremony at Noble Park last September.
Omerdic had fought the charge, claiming the marriage was not subsequently formalised under Australian law.
But Mr Goldberg said he was satisfied the ceremony was completed and marriage occurred.
"I'm satisfied the prosecution has proved all elements of the charge," he said on Thursday.
Video of the wedding between the man and underage girl was shown previously in Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
In the footage, seized by police from the mobile phone of the girl's "husband", Omerdic can be heard telling the girl it was her duty to obey her husband.
"She's very young," he can be heard telling the child's mother and her betrothed.
Omerdic was an imam of the Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque, but was sacked after being arrested in November and having his marriage celebrant licence revoked.
He told police he thought the girl was 17 and he did not consider the pair officially married as he had not seen their ID and proof of age.
The court also heard a $1480 gold necklace was given by the groom to the girl as a dowry.
During a recorded interview played previously in court, Omerdic tells police the "husband" had approached him saying: "There is a girl, I love her. I have to be with her."
The girl's "husband" has pleaded guilty to going through a formal ceremony of marriage with a person not of marriageable age.
As part of his plea, prosecutors withdrew two charges including allegations he had sex with the girl after the wedding.
The Board of Imams Victoria issued a statement against forced and child marriages after Omerdic was charged.
"Underage marriages are illegal in Australia. As Australian Muslims, we are required to observe and respect the laws of Australia," the statement said.
The board said imams should meet both the bride and groom in person before the marriage ceremony to ensure they are of marriageable age and both had consented.
Omerdic's bail was extended with the matter adjourned to June 21.
Share
