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Yemeni man accused of trying to marry off 8-year-old daughter

IBB, Yemen, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A Yemeni man was arrested and charged for allegedly trying to marry off his 8-year-old daughter to one of his relatives, authorities said.

The man, whose name was not reported, was arrested in the Al Souhoul area of Ibb province on Jan. 23, just as the girl was about to be wedded to her cousin, Gulf News reported.

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"The police arrived in the nick of time. The wedding preparations were in full swing," Brigadier General Mohammad Al Qudisi told Gulf News Wednesday.

Yasser Abbad, a local journalist and activist, said he was the one who informed police about the wedding, Gulf News said.

An unnamed police official said the suspect was questioned by police and later released after he confessed to the crime.

"We did not want to destroy his poor family as he is the breadwinner. Also we released him when he admitted his fault and pledged not to marry her off before she reaches the legal age of marriage," the official was quoted as saying.

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