Protected Witness S5: I was raped by a man Batko called Miki

In December 2011, at the trial of Veselin Vlahović, known as Batko, a protected witness of the BiH Prosecutor's Office stated that the accused came to her apartment in 1992, where he beat her together with another person, writes the BiH news agency Patria.

Before the Court of BiH, protected witness S5 recounted that Batko, whom she had known previously, came to her apartment on Grbavica in early May 1992 together with another person.

- When they entered the apartment, I received a strong blow that made me fall into another room. Then Batko struck me near the eye. He pressed the rifle barrel near my eye; at that moment I thought he would fire, but he didn't. Blood was flowing, and a hole remained at that spot - said S5.

Witness S5 further testified that the accused Vlahović told the other person who came with him to her apartment to “take her to the room and liquidate her.” According to the witness's statement, she did not know that person, but she heard the accused address him as “Miki,” and as we unofficially learn, it is Milkan Gojković, whom SIPA arrested today in Rogatica.

- That other person threw me onto the couch, hitting me with a rifle. He inflicted terrible blows on me and told me to close my eyes, but I couldn't from the shock. I think he raped me, but I was in shock. Then Batko came; when my clothes were already removed, he started undressing, even lay down. However, at that moment shooting started and they left - said the witness.

According to the witness's statement, Batko took gold worth five thousand marks from her apartment that day.

S5 stated that after a few days, she managed to escape from Grbavica, after which she was treated in hospital for injuries sustained from the beating.

- My body is still scarred today. My back is bruised, and I had to have surgery on my eye. It happens that I cannot sleep for over ten days; I have fears - explained the witness.

When asked by the defense why she did not report what she experienced on Grbavica in 1992, witness S5 said that out of fear and trauma she did not want to talk about it. S5 testified before the Court of BiH from another room, stating that she cannot bear to meet the accused Vlahović.

BATKO SENTENCED TO 42 YEARS IN PRISON

Batko, it is recalled, was sentenced to 45 years in prison by the first-instance verdict of the Court of BiH, which was reduced to 42 years after the defense filed an appeal. He is serving his sentence in Foča prison.

The BiH Prosecutor's Office charged Vlahović with killing and participating in the murder of several persons in the Sarajevo neighborhoods of Grbavica, Vraca, and Kovačići in 1992, as well as participating in the abuse of Bosniak and Croat civilians, from whom he took money and other valuables. A second indictment was also filed against Vlahović, charging him with the murders and disappearances of 14 persons, as well as rape and abuse of civilians.