Bosnia Convicts Serb Ex-Fighter of Raping Woman Prisoner
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The Bosnian state court found Rade Grujic guilty on Thursday of raping a Bosniak woman in the village of Liplje while he was a member of the Snagovo Company of the Zvornik Territorial Defence force and sentenced him to six years in prison.
The first-instance verdict said that from late May to early June 1992, a large number of civilians were unlawfully detained in houses in Liplje by members of the White Eagles paramilitary unit and the Snagovo Company, and physically and mentally abused. Several women were raped.
Presiding judge Tanja Curovic said the court determined beyond reasonable doubt that Grujic committed a crime against humanity.
Curovic said witnesses confirmed that Grujic was seen in the vicinity of the house, while the victim, who testified as a protected witness codenamed A-3, recognised him.
“The chamber has determined, beyond reasonable doubt, that on an undetermined date, after having been forcibly brought to the house, A-3 was raped,” the judge said.
“She gave a detailed description of having been raped multiple times, saying that the defendant raped her once. The chamber considered her testimony to be convincing, clear and unambiguous,” she added.
The judge mentioned the defence’s attempt to prove that the defendant had an alibi by saying he was in Serbia at the time of the crime, but documentation showed that he only went to Serbia afterwards, in July.
When deciding on the sentence, the court assessed as mitigating circumstances the fact that the defendant is a father of two and that he was 25 at the time of commission of the crime, as well as the fact that he has no previous convictions.
As aggravating circumstances, the court took into account the cruelty of the crime and the psychological consequences for the victim.
The court partially upheld a claim for damages filed by the victim, ordering Grujic to pay her 10,000 Bosnian marks (around 5,100 euros) once the verdict becomes final.
The court ruled that the fact that the victim was held captive at the house in Liplje “cannot be only the defendant’s responsibility” and advised her to file a civil suit for the remaining part of her claim.
The verdict can be appealed.
