A Lebanese university student (Ahmad Chamma) accused of marrying and having a sexual relationship with 13-year-old girl was formally refused bail by a Sydney court on Friday.
The man, 26, was living in Australia on a student visa when police arrested and charged him with 25 counts of sexual intercourse with an underage child.
Police allege the man befriended the girl when she was 12 years old.
He was studying at the University of Newcastle when he met the victim in 2013. He later moved with her to a unit in Sydney's south-west.
Police said they believe the pair were married in an
Islamic ceremony this year.
The accused did not apply for bail and Magistrate Christopher Longley formally refused it.
He sat in the dock wearing an orange, grey and white polo shirt and listened to the proceedings with the help of an Arabic interpreter.
At times he slouched forward, resting his head in his hands.
It is understood the victim's parents were separated and it is not clear whether both her father and mother were aware of the union.
Child abuse squad detectives began an investigation after learning the man had tried to obtain guardianship of the girl at Centrelink.
It is believed he was trying to become the girl's guardian after she expressed an interest in going to a school in Sydney.
He was charged with 25 counts of sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 14 years.The man spent Thursday night behind bars after police arrested him and charged him at Auburn police station.
He is expected to apply for bail next Wednesday.
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/nsw/lebanese-student-kept-in-custody-over-allegations-he-married-13yearold-girl-20140207-326kn.html
