A Muslim cleric who allegedly presided over Melbourne wedding involving a child bride is fighting the charge in court.
Former imam Ibrahim Omerdic, 61, appeared before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Friday charged with conduct that caused a minor to enter into a forced marriage.
The marriage involved a 34-year-old man and a 14-year-old bride.
Omerdic was an imam of the Bosnian Islamic Society and Noble Park Mosque when he oversaw the alleged ceremony on September 29 last year.
He was sacked after he was arrested in November, and his marriage celebrant licence was revoked.
Barrister Daniel Gurvich QC on Friday said the defence will contest whether there was a marriage and whether there was any intention to perform the marriage ceremony.
"There is an issue of whether there was any solemnisation of a marriage," he told Magistrate Simon Zebrowski.
Two witnesses will give evidence about the alleged ceremony at a contested hearing on May 17.
Video of the alleged ceremony will also be played in court.
Omerdic has had his bail extended until his next appearance.
https://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/a/35475357/cleric-in-vic-court-over-child-bride/#page1
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