Lebanese national accused of child marriage in Australia

A Pakistan-born Muslim cleric was charged on Tuesday in Australia with conducting an illegal marriage between a 26-year-old man and a 12-year-old girl.

This comes as the Australian police arrested a Lebanese national -- the "husband" -- last week on child sex offenses.

Police said that the imam was arrested in Sydney on Monday by the Child Abuse Squad.

Last week, the Australian police revealed that the Lebanese man who is in Australia on a student visa, met a 12-year-old girl in Sydney in 2013 and allegedly became involved in a sexual relationship with her.

The couple allegedly moved to Sydney, with police claiming the man and child were married in accordance to the Islamic law earlier this year.

While child marriages remain common in parts of the world, in Australia 18 is the minimum age to tie the knot.

The "husband" has been charged with 25 counts of sexual intercourse with a child between 10 and 14 years and remains in custody.