Rape Conviction Urged for Bosnian Serb Ex-Soldier
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The prosecution on Monday urged the state court in Sarajevo to find former Bosnian Serb soldier Vuk Ratkovic guilty of committing rape in Visegrad during wartime and order him to pay the victim 45,000 Bosnian marks (about 23,000 euros) in compensation.
Ratkovic, a former member of the Visegrad Brigade of the Bosnian Serb Army, is charged with having tortured, abused, raped and beaten a Serb woman on several occasions in the period from June 1992 to January 1993.
The prosecution has alleged in court during the trial that Ratkovic assaulted his victim because she was married to a Bosniak.
“The witness provided a detailed description of the event and confirmed the allegations contained in the indictment,” said prosecutor Edin Muradbegovic in his closing statement.
“She identified Ratkovic as the perpetrator both during the investigation and in the courtroom. Her testimony is completely reliable and clear. She has no reason to falsely accuse Ratkovic,” he added.
He argued that the victim’s life had been destroyed by the rape, and that she and her family still suffer the consequences of the crime.
“Testimonies given by other prosecution witnesses confirmed the allegations made by [the victim, who testified as] witness VR-1. They said Ratkovic used to come to the place where witness used to work and she was afraid of him,” the prosecutor said.
Ratkovic’s defence is due to present its closing statement on September 3.
