A 28-year-old man was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison, per information obtained from the Goncha Siso Nese District Justice Office, for marrying a 12-year-old girl in the Gandawein City Administration in the East Gojam Zone.
The accused, Getachew Alelegn, wed a 12-year-old girl in a private religious ceremony on January 14, 2022, at or around 11:00 a.m., at the unusual location of Gub Administration in Arsema Church.
Convicted deacon Gethetul Alelgndef sued under the Act for the crime of marrying a minor. The defendant was later charged with breaking the act.
He argued that getting married to a child in church was legal. The legal witnesses were heard in court. The accused did not offer a defense witness or challenge the prosecution’s evidence. He received a sentence of one year and eight months, which was meant to serve as an example for the rest of society and the accused.