Vlahovic: Rape of Pregnant Woman

Witness E.M. left Grbavica with his immediate family in April 1992, but his father-in-law, his sister-in-law, who was seven months pregnant at the time, and her two year-old daughter, stayed behind in his apartment.

When they too left Grbavica in July 1992, his sister-in-law told him what had been happening to them.

“First there was psychological abuse and the indictee threatened he would cut their throats, then there was plunder, and then he raped the pregnant sister-in-law in another room,” said the witness.

E.M. said that he heard Batko made one of their neighbours carry stolen goods to his car, and that on one occasion he took the neighbour with him and that person has never been seen again.

Indictee Vlahovic asked the witness if anyone else was coming to the apartment beside him, and the witness replied: “You were the ringleader, it’s not important whom you brought along with you.”

Witness Denis Suljic said that Vlahovic came to their apartment in late June 1992, and that he beat them and took their gold and money.

The Prosecution of Bosnia and Herzegovina charges Vlahovic with the killing of several people in Sarajevo in 1992 and abusing and stealing from Bosniak and Croat civilians.

A second indictment was filed against Vlahovic, charging him with the murder and disappearances of 14 people, as well as rape and abuse of civilians. The indictee is defending himself while in custody.

The next hearing is scheduled for February 16, 2012.